§ MR. LLEWELLYN (Somerset, N.)asked the Secretary of State for War, Whether any Regulation or Order exists whereby gentlemen wishing to compete for commissions in the Medical Staff are debarred, by reason of their inability, to make a declaration that "their parents are of unmixed European blood;" whether any similar Regulation exists with regard to officers in other branches of Her Majesty's Services; whether a gentleman was recently prevented from competing for a commission in the Army and Medical Staff on account of his having an admixture of Indian blood in the third generation; and, whether this gentleman was the son of a General Officer by an English mother?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. E. STANHOPE) (Lincolnshire, Horncastle)A declaration is required from candidates for the Army Medical Staff that their parents are of unmixed European blood. The reason is that it is held by the Medical Authorities that the constitutions of men of mixed British and Indian race would break down under service in Northern climates. There is, however, of course, a limit of distance 80 beyond which the infusion of Asiatic blood could not be held to be prejudicial to military efficiency; and I scarcely think that in the case quoted by my hon. Friend any objection would be taken. I believe that the same Rule applies in the Naval Medical Service. The gentleman referred to applied for a Schedule of Qualifications; but it does not appear that he ever sent it in filled up.