§ MR. T. W. LEGH (Lancashire, S.W., Newton)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Officers taking part in the recent military mission to the Emperor of Russia have been permitted to accept and wear a Russian Order, whereas the Regulations state that such permission shall not be granted to any British subject except in consequence of active and distinguished service before the enemy; and, if he can state why the Regulations relating to Foreign Orders are strictly enforced against members of the Diplomatic Service, but habitually relaxed in favour of persons employed in missions of the character indicated?
§ SIR E. GREYPermission to wear the Order has not been granted to these Officers under the Regulations, and no warrant has been or will 1424 be prepared for that purpose. It is manifest that the Queen may, when Her Majesty sees fit, make exceptions to the Regulations, and it is understood that she has given her personal permission in this case as in that of the Officers who proceeded to Berlin under similar circumstances.