HC Deb 14 November 1917 vol 99 cc367-9
24. Mr. ANDERSON

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will have inquiry made into the case of Max Seidman, of 1, Calabria Road, Highbury, a Russian subject, aged thirty-five years and a skilled watchmaker, who, coming under the Military Service (Conventions with Allied States) Act, offered himself to two mechanical units, the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps, but was told that men were not accepted unless they were British subjects of British parentage, despite the fact that men under this Act have the same opportunities of enlisting as British subjects; and whether he will state the position with respect to Russian subjects who enlist?

Mr. MACPHERSON

Russian subjects desirous of enlisting voluntarily, or called up under the Military Service (Conventions with Allied States) Act, are dealt with in the same manner as British subjects, and are posted, if qualified as tradesmen, to the technical corps which may require them. The man to whom my hon. Friend refers has not been called up for service, I understand, and has not pre- sented himself voluntarily for enlistment to the authorised recruiting officer. Further, he has not been attested, and has an appeal for exemption from military service pending.

71 Major NEWMAN

asked the President of the Local Government Board the names of the Executive Council of the United Russian Committee who have assumed the powers of exempting, on the production of certain documents, Russian subjects of military age in this country; whether this Committee have already exempted more than 500 men; and how many of this Committee are themselves of military age?

The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Hayes Fisher)

I regret that I have not the information for which the hon. and gallant Member asks.

Major NEWMAN

Why cannot I have the information?

Mr. FISHER

Because I have not the information in my Department. The question should be addressed to the Foreign Office.

72. Major NEWMAN

asked the President of the Local Government Board the number of special tribunals that have been set up to deal with the cases of Russian citizens liable for military service under the Military Service (Conventions with Allied States) Act; and how many cases of appeals have been disposed of by these tribunals and how many remain to be heard?

Mr. FISHER

There is only one special tribunal for dealing with these cases, that for London. Over 8,300 applications have been received, of which more than 700 had been decided at the end of last week. Arrangements have been made by the tribunal for dealing with the cases expeditiously after the national service representative has made his preliminary inquiry into the applications. In other parts of the country the applications are dealt with by the ordinary tribunals, with the addition of special members in some instances.

Major NEWMAN

Will the cases coming before the special tribunal be heard in the course of next year?

Mr. FISHER

I do not know why the hon. and gallant Member should ask that. They will be heard as expeditiously as possible.