§ Mr. KELLYasked the President of the Board of Trade when the late deputy chief clerk of the Clearing Office, Enemy Debts, warned the controller of collusion between a member of the accountancy staff and one of the agents acting for applicants to statelessness; and what action was taken to prevent access to the files and documents with which this agent was concerned?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMThere is no record of any warning having been given to the controller of the Clearing Office of collusion between a member of the accountancy staff and an agent for applicants to statelessness. About July, 1927, prior to the date on which it was decided to negotiate with one of the agents in question, the controller was told that an official of the Clearing Office had accepted hospitality and received messages from him, and before agreeing to accept him as an agent of the applicants the controller obtained from him specific assurances as to his relationship with members of the staff. He also issued strin-1636W gent special instructions to prevent improper access to files regarding claims to statelessness.