§ SIR CARNE RASCH (Essex, Chelmsford)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that rifle clubs form no part of the system of national defence, he will take steps to secure that members of such clubs shall not be liable to be hanged as franc tireurs in case of a war of invasion.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. ARNOLD-FORSTER,) Belfast, W.Articles 25 and 26 of the Hague Convention, 1899, define lawful belligerents. If the requirements set forth in these Articles are fulfilled by rifle clubs, the members of such clubs will not, under the Convention, be liable to the extreme penalty suggested by my hon. and gallant friend. I have little 231 doubt that, in order to serve their country effectually, members of rifle clubs would, in time of war, gladly conform to the requirements of the public law of nations.
§ MR. CROOKS (Woolwich)I suppose these members of rifle clubs are real men and not spooks?
§ MR. FREDERICK WILSON (Norfolk, Mid.)asked whether, when the £50,000 per annum now promised to rifle clubs for the second time was really given, steps would be taken so to regularise their position that they would no longer run the slightest danger of being hanged as Chunchuses.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERI do not know whether the Question is put seriously. If it is I can only say I cannot look far enough into the future to enable me to reply.