On This Day, 20 November 1917

Birmingham Daily Post

Tuesday 20 November 1917

BIRMINGHAM LADY’S PASSPORT

Mr. Snowden asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he could state why a passport had been refused to Mrs. A. E. Whittle, of 61, Aubrey Road, Small Heath, Birmingham, whose husband was a missionary at Porto Rico, West Indies, Mrs. Whittle having come home on furlough two years ago, and now being anxious to return to her husband, who was unwell and greatly needed her assistance, and would the Foreign Office reconsider this matter?

Mr Balfour: The case of Mrs. Whittle has been carefully considered, but there are no circumstances of such urgent necessity as would warrant an exception to the rules prohibiting women and children from travelling overseas at the present time. The case will be reconsidered as soon as it is found possible to relax the restrictions.