49. Mr. THOMASasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that, although a pledge was given that boys under nineteen years of age should not be sent abroad, a large number of boys of the age of eighteen and a half have been sent to France owing to a national emergency and are now serving in the firing line: and whether, having regard to the public feeling that boys of this age should be safeguarded, he will issue an order that to far as possible they must not be placed within the danger zone until they attain the age of nineteen?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONMy night hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. As regards the first part of the question, I am afraid I can add nothing to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on the 9th April. As regards the second part, I regret that it is not possible, in the present crisis, to issue instructions on the lines suggested by my right lion. Friend.
§ Mr. HOGGEWill the hon. Gentleman say that, supposing the circumstances alter, the War Office will go back to their former position—that boys will not be put into the firing line, according to the arrangement, until they have arrived at the age of nineteen?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI cannot, of course, answer offhand a question of that sort, which depends upon military conditions.
Mr. PRICEIn view of what the Prime Minister said, that boys of tins age should not be sent, will the hon. Gentleman issue a statement that circumstances have arisen that have made the authorities depart from that undertaking, so that parents shall not suddenly discover that their boys, without their knowledge, have been sent to the front?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI think that the House will agree, with regard to boys under nineteen, particularly those well over eighteen, that it is a fact that before this difficulty arose the War Office treated them very well and carefully in the way they controlled their movements. This crisis, however, came on us almost immediately, like a thief in the night, and we could not possibly take the necessary precautions. We feel sure, however, that the nation, and particularly the parents of these boys, will agree with the policy that we have adopted. I am very grateful to think that that has been the attitude of all, or about all, the parents in the country—they have generally accepted the view that the War Office did what was right, under the circumstances, in sending the boys, who were well trained, to the front.
Mr. PRICEMy point was—in view of the fact that you departed from the policy laid down by the Prime Minister, owing to the gravity of the circumstances, would it not be as well to issue a statement to the effect that it was necessary to depart from that policy, so that the parents will feel assured that, while the Government have broken a pledge, the circumstances were such as compelled them—that the parents may be assured that what has been done would not have been done if it could have been avoided?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONAs a matter of fact, I think such a notice was given some prominence. [HON. MEMBERS: "NO!"] Well, a, notice was published in the Press, and it was my desire that this particular point should be given prominence.