§ MR. J. C. BOLTON (Stirling)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether a Petition has reached the Foreign Office from British subjects, 191 merchants, bankers, and others, resident in Java, praying Her Majesty's Government to make representations to the Government of the Netherlands, with the view of obtaining for the Petitioners relief from the irksome and repugnant compulsory military service under the Government of Netherlands India to which those British subjects are now liable; and, if so, whether Her Majesty's Government have made such representations as the case appears to require, and with what result?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N.E.)A Petition has been received; but the complaint is not one which Her Majesty's Government can represent, inasmuch as there is no stipulation in the Treaties between this country and the Netherlands exempting British subjects from service in the Militia in Dutch Colonies when resident there. The Petitioners have been informed that if it can be shown that foreigners of any other nationality are relieved from that obligation a claim will be made for a like exemption for British subjects under the provision for treatment as the Most Favoured Nation.