§ Mr. BOOTHasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can state the reason that permission was given to Mr. Frank Baer, aged about thirty, German-born but a naturalised British subject, an employé of the firm of Messrs. Henry B. Merton and Company, Limited, the majority of whose directors are German-born, to leave this country for the United States; for what reason the journey was undertaken, how long Mr. Frank Baer has been away, and how long he will be permitted to absent himself from this country, and thereby not be available for military service; and if he is aware that Mr. Frank Baer applied for exemption from military service and was refused by the tribunal?
§ Lord R. CECILA passport, endorsed valid until the bearer is called up for military service, was granted to Mr. Frank Baer for the purpose of negotiating with the American Metal Company regarding the joint purchase of enemy shareholding in the Ore Trading Company. Mr. Baer is classified for C 1, and will be called up for 19th December. It is understood that he will be back in this country before that date, and there is no reason to suppose that he will fail to report himself as he has undertaken to do.