§ 10. Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALDasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the ease of Bombardier F. Ballard, who was put under arrest for writing in a letter to his late employer in this country that the sooner we get international law the better, then the British Tommy will have a chance to speak; and whether he has made any representations to the officer responsible, and with what results?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIt would be quite in order for a soldier to be placed under 1389 arrest for having made certain statements in a letter, but without seeing the letter written by Bombardier Ballard I am afraid that it is impossible to form an opinion whether the action taken in this case was correct or otherwise.
§ Mr. MACDONALDHave I not sent the right hon. Gentleman the exact words used by Bombardier Ballard?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONNo; my hon. Friend has sent a letter, but it was not the letter for which Bombardier Ballard was arrested. It was a subsequent letter, containing only one sentence, only part of the sentence, of the original letter.