§ Mr. ROWNTREEasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether he is aware of the personal loss and hardship caused to Mr. George Clark, of Glasgow, who was, in January, 1917. granted a passport to New Zealand and at once sold his household furniture, but has now been notified that it is withdrawn; and whether he can see his way to authorise the endorsement of this passport; and (2) whether he is aware of the personal loss and inconvenience caused to Mr. Martyn Pumphrey, of Glasgow, who, on receiving on 29th November last a passport to the United States, terminated his business partnership and prepared to sail but was notified on 8th January that the passport was withdrawn; and whether ho can see his way to authorise the endorsement of this passport?
Mr. BALFOURI will reply to these questions together. In applications of this kind the Passport Office is guided by the views of the Director-General of National Service. In the cases of Mr. Clark and Mr. Pumphrey, the whole of the circumstances were taken into careful consideration by the National Service Department, who decided that permission to leave the country should be refused.