HC Deb 13 March 1917 vol 91 cc894-5
25. Mr. BOLAND

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that a military officer was appointed in 1915 as censor at the Ballin-skelligs cable station, who termed himself Captain Staples; that after holding the position for some months he left suddenly and it was discovered that he had no claim to the rank of captain; that there is only one hotel in the whole district, and that the hotel proprietor was unable to request him to leave when he failed to pay his hotel bills, by reason of the fact that the Defence of the Realm Acts prevented him from exercising the usual precautions; whether he is aware that the hotel proprietor has been unable to obtain payment of the amount due; and whether, in view of the fact that the War Office appointed to the important position of military censor a man about whose antecedents they had not made the necessary inquiries, and who had no right to the title of officer which he assumed, steps will now be taken to indemnify the hotel proprietor for the loss he has sustained?

The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Forster)

I have every sympathy with the hotel proprietor referred to, but I am afraid that the Department cannot accept any responsibility for the private debts of persons employed by it. I do not quite understand the reference to the Defence of the Realm Regulations.

Mr. BOLAND

Is the hon. Gentleman not perfectly aware that at this cable station messages going to America have to be censored, and that the hotel proprietor could not request this man to leave because under the operations of the Defence of the Realm Act in Ireland he would have made himself amenable to the law?

Mr. FORSTER

No, Sir. There is this point I do not understand: I do not understand that the Defence of the Realm Regulations prevent any hotel proprietor from taking ordinary steps.

Mr. BOLAND

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware, seeing that there is no other hotel in the place, that if the proprietor had asked this so-called military officer to retire immediately he would have made himself liable to military operations?

Mr. FORSTER

I am not aware of that. If the hon. Member will confer with me upon that point I will have it closely examined.

Mr. BOLAND

I have already conferred several times, personally and by letter, with the hon. Gentleman, and I must take the opportunity of raising this question in Debate at the earliest possible moment.

Mr. FLAVIN

Can the hon. Gentleman say where Captain Staples is now?