§ 15. Mr. Dribergasked the Home Secretary on what grounds Major Leonard Cripps, of Liverpool, was granted an exit permit enabling him to visit America recently, in view of the fact that, since his arrival there, he has made public statements of a nature likely to damage American regard for this country and His Majesty's Government?
§ Mr. H. MorrisonAn exit permit was granted to Major Cripps in his capacity as chairman of Elder Dempster Lines, Ltd., to enable him to visit that Company's organisations in Canada and the United States. I was advised by the competent Government Department that this visit was in the national interest. I have no knowledge of any such public statements as are referred to in the latter part of the Question.
§ Mr. DribergIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this Gentleman has been quoted in the American Press as saying that this is a "country of mad hatters" and that the British Government are "destroying civilisation by giving away all this blasted money," and is it not possible, when British citizens go abroad in war-time, to advise them to use a little discretion in public statements about their own country?
§ Mr. MorrisonI quite agree that as a general rule it is desirable, especially when the permit is given on business grounds, that the person should be very careful of any statement he makes, but I have not got full particulars of any of the statements referred to.
§ Sir H. WilliamsWould it not be possible to send over his right hon. and learned brother as a counter-irritant?