§ 18. Mr. KINGasked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that advertisements have appeared in the Russian newspapers addressed to British subjects, calling on them if between the ages of eighteen and forty-one to call on or communicate with the Consulate-General immediately; whether it is intended to bring over all British subjects of military age from Russia to serve in the British Army; and whether adequate arrangements have been made for their transport with their families or dependants?
Mr. BALFOURThe advertisements referred to are presumably those issued in pursuance of the instructions sent to His Majesty's Ambassador in Petrograd. An agreement is being negotiated with the Russian Government by which British subjects in Russia who are, or may become, liable to military service by the law of this country will be given the option of returning to this country for service or of serving in the Russian Army, though His Majesty's Ambassador will issue exemptions from service in either Army in appropriate cases. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.
§ Mr. KINGIn view of the fact that the Government policy on this question has changed several times since the advertisements were issued, is the British 1763 Minister in Russia being kept well acquainted with the various gyrations of Government policy?
§ 20. Mr. TREVELYANasked whether British subjects in the United States between the ages of eighteen and forty-five are being conscripted; and, if so, under what law?