§ Major HURSTasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will inquire if in May, 1917, Lieutenant and Quartermaster E. Baston, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, was called on to resign his commission and refused a gratuity without an opportunity to state his case to the Army Council; whether he is aware that Lieutenant Baston has made repeated appeals for such an opportunity or, alternatively, for a Court of inquiry, and whether, having regard to his twenty-three years' continuous good 2272W service in the Regular Army and the circumstances under which he was made to resign, he may now, as an act of grace, be granted the privilege of an interview with a member of the Army Council, in accordance with the more recent practice of the Army?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe introduction by Army Order of the 18th May, 1918, of the concession as to an interview with a member of the Army Council was long subsequent to the date when this officer was called on to resign his commission, and the Army Order had no retrospective effect. As regards this particular case, I find that it was carefully considered at the time and the officer's written representations have since been before the Army Council, with the result that the previous decision has been confirmed. In the circumstances I regret that I cannot see my way to adopt the course suggested in the last part of the question.