98. Colonel GRIFFITHSasked the Secretary of State for War whether instructions have been recently issued to stop conscientious objectors digging graves in France-within five miles of the trench line; if so, whether this was a Government instruction to the War Office; and if he can state whether genuine conscientious objectors object to digging the graves of British soldiers whose deaths are caused by the enemy?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Lloyd George)The only instruction issued to the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief in France limiting the work on which the Non-Combatant Corps may be employed is that they may not be employed in the firing line; the second part of the question, therefore, does not arise. I have no information as to the third part.