12. Mr. Baker Whiteasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that a circular, issued by the proprietors of the Broome Park Hotel, near Canterbury, contains a statement derogatory to the Army, in that it charges members of it with wilful damage and theft; and if he proposes to prosecute the proprietors of the hotel and compel them to withdraw the circular.
§ Mr. ShinwellThe hon. Member has been good enough to send me a copy of the passage in the circular to which he refers. The offensive statement derogatory to the Army is in general terms, and contains no allegations against particular individuals. I need do no more than point out that if it had not been for the gallant fight put up by the Army and the other Services in the war to defend this country from invasion, the proprietors of the hotel would doubtless not now have been in possession of it at all.