§ 18. Mr. WATTasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that Italians are being called up in several parts of Scotland for military service; and that usually, when the terms of the Convention with Italy are pleaded before the tribunals there, the applications of the National Service representatives are dismissed as incompetent and the men are not called up, but that the War Office is ignoring such dismissals and insists on these men joining the Colours in this country; and will he say whether this action has the sanction of his Department?
§ Lord R. CECILI am afraid I know nothing of the facts alleged in the first two parts of the question, and am therefore unable to answer the third.
§ Mr. WATTIf the right hon. Gentleman gets a proof that the War Office is overriding the Italian Convention, will he take any action?
§ Lord R. CECILI will wait till I see the proof.
§ 40. Mr. KINGasked how many of the 6,233 Italians of military age in this country under call on the 29th May, 1918, have now joined the British Army; how many have been exempted from military service; how many of the other Italians under investigation at the end of May have had their cases settled; and how many of the 12,900 Italians in this country on the military register have now joined the British Army?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of NATIONAL SERVICE (Mr. Beck)There is no information which I can usefully add to that given to the hon. Member on 29th May.
§ 72. Mr. WATTasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his Department in Scotland, and in particular the A.R.O. in the town of Stirling, are insisting on Italians joining the Colours in this country, notwithstanding the fact that tribunals have given exemption to such men, on the ground that the Convention with Italy held such service to be incompetent; and whether this action of the military in overriding the civil tribunal has his sanction?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY Of STATE for WAR (Mr. Macpherson)I am afraid I do not understand my hon. Friend's question. Perhaps he would give particulars to the Minister of National Service, who is responsible for recruiting in Great Britain.
§ Mr. WATTSurely the right hon. Gentleman's Department is overriding the Convention with Italy in calling up Italians in this way?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI cannot see how my Department can override that, because I am not responsible for it.
§ Mr. KINGIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Ministry of National Service refuses to give any information on this subject; therefore it must come from the War Office?
§ Mr. WATTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the telegrams sent out calling up these Italians are sent from the War Office and not the Ministry of National Service?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI should like to see those telegrams, because I am not aware of any telegrams sent out from the War Office calling up anybody.