§ 27. Sir I. PHILIPPSasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any request has been made by his Department to the Home Office for special facilities to be given to any person or persons to visit a prisoner of war named Baron von Plessen; and, if so, on what dates?
§ Lord R. CECILNo, Sir.
§ Colonel C. LOWTHERHave members of the Government and their families special access to German prisoners, or must they approach them through the usual channels?
§ Lord R. CECILSo far as I know, through the usual channels; but that question ought to be addressed to the Home Office.
§ Mr. BILLINGWill the Noble Lord make representations to the Leader of the Government that, in future, no member of His Majesty's Government shall visit any Germans interned in this country or make any friendly overtures towards them?
§ 29 and 92. Sir I. PHILIPPSasked (1) the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to a recent court-martial, at which Lieutenant Canning was honourably acquitted, at which a letter, said to have been sent by the Home Office and signed by a Mr. Waller, was produced in evidence, in which letter an attempt was made by some person to draw a military officer from his allegiance and persuade him to commit a serious military crime, whereby the writer of such letter rendered himself liable to be put on his trial; if so, what steps he has taken to bring the writer of such letter to trial; has the military officer concerned been commended for his refusal to be led astray; (2) the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether a letter produced at a recent court-martial, when Lieutenant Canning was honourably acquitted, and stated to be from the Home Office, was in fact an official letter from the Home Office; if so, on whose instructions was it issued and at whose request; and what steps have been taken to bring the writer or the official directing the letter to be written to trial for attempting to persuade a military officer to disobey the orders he had received, whereby a serious military offence might have been committed?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY Of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Brace)The officer referred to is Mr. Waller, who is head of the Department of the Home Office that deals with questions relating to interned civilians. It was part of his duty to deal with applications for special visits to civilian prisoners of war, which in certain circumstances are permitted, 1040 this work having been undertaken by the Home Office at the express request of the Army Council. On one occasion Mrs. Leverton Harris applied to him for permission to have an interview with Baron von Plessen without the presence of an officer, and Mr. Waller wrote to the commandant asking that this should be allowed, but, on the commandant's giving reasons why there should be no departure from the ordinary rules in von Plessen's case, Mr. Waller authorised him to refuse the application. There was no attempt to persuade a military officer to disobey orders: the question of visits was one in which the commandant was responsible-to the Home Office, and he had been so-instructed by the War Office.
§ Mr. R. HARCOURTWithout making any suggestion whatever against Mr. Waller, who is well known to me personally, is it not desirable on grounds of principle that civilian officials should not communicate with military men unless it-is absolutely necessary?
§ Mr. BRACEBut these are civilian prisoners and come under the Home Office, and therefore it was a civilian matter.
§ Mr. BILLINGWill the Home Office give an undertaking that in future no preference will be given to members of His Majesty's Government for fraternising with enemies?
§ Mr. BRACENo preference has been given, and Mrs. Leverton Harris is not a member of His Majesty's Government. [Laughter.]
§ Mr. BILLINGI would like to ask if the House of Commons is aware that this is no laughing matter, and is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Mrs. Leverton Harris is the wife of a member of His Majesty's Government, and does that member of His Majesty's Government propose to appeal to his constituents as to their decision?
§ 30. Mr. R. McNEILLasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether No. 25, Cromwell Road, S.W., has been taken by the Government as a place of internment for German prisoners of war; on what terms, by purchase or otherwise, the house has been obtained; what is the actual or estimated cost of any necessary alterations and of furnishing for the object in view; and whether special precautions will be taken in the case of prisoners 1041 interned in a London residence to prevent escape and to ensure that the presence of the prisoners is not offensive to other residents in the neighbourhood?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe proposal to acquire the premises mentioned for the internment of prisoners of war has been abandoned.