§ 44. Major O'NEILLasked the Secretary of State for War whether he has yet re- 956 ceived a reply to the cable dispatched on 18th June asking whether Captain J. M. Gibson, Royal Army Medical Corps, could be relieved from Salonika and sent home for demobilisation; and, if so, can he state the effect of it?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI regret that the reply has not yet been received. I will communicate with my hon. and gallant Friend as soon as I a in in a position to give him the desired information.
§ Major O'NEILLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that his Parliamentary Private Secretary wrote to me on 15th April last stating that instructions had been issued for this officer to be immediately released and sent home for demobilisation?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI was not aware of it until my hon. Friend mentioned it. It is possible that there may be difficulties-in releasing a particular doctor from a particular unit because of the health of the troops in the neighbourhood. As I said, I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as I have the information.
§ Major O'NEILLWould it not be better if Members of Parliament were not sent categorical letters of this kind informing them that their applications had been acceded to without qualification?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThat as so. I regret it; but we are doing our best, and I will look into this matter and see if there is any special ground of complaint.