Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTI beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has yet received from the German and Austro-Hungarian Governments any reply to the proposals made by His Majesty's Government on 31st August as to the exchange of British subjects abroad for the subjects of those Governments in Great Britain?
§ Mr. ACLANDHis Majesty's Government have received this morning from the United States Ambassador a telegram which he received from Washington yesterday, stating that the German Government agrees to allow English women and children not over sixteen years of age to leave Germany, and will facilitate their departure. They refuse to allow British subjects of military age who are not under duty of military service to leave on giving an undertaking not to take part in assisting the operations of war, and consequently they will detain all male British subjects of military age. It is stated in the telegram that the period of liability to military duty in Germany is from seventeen to forty-five, but further inquiry will be necessary and is being made on this point, in view of statements which have appeared in the Press that the age of obligation for service has been extended to fifty-five in Germany. I am thus not able to state yet above what age male British subjects will be allowed to leave Germany.
I would ask relatives of those who are affected to refrain from writing to the Foreign Office, asking that their relatives may have early or special treatment in the matter of being brought back from Germany. We may rely on the Representatives of the United States Government to do all that is possible, as soon as suitable arrangements can be made, to deal with every case in the best way available. I must repeat that neither the United States Embassy nor the Foreign Office can undertake the forwarding of letters or money to particular persons in Germany. Supplies of money for relief and repatriation are in the hands of the United States Representatives, and will be increased if necessity arises. No answer to our proposals for exchange has yet been received from the Austro-Hungarian Government.