§ 16. Mr. KINGasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received through the British diplomatic agent in Moscow a request from the Russian Government not to conscript any more Russian subjects in this country; and, if so, what answer has been returned?
§ The MINISTER of BLOCKADE (Lord Robert Cecil)The Russian People's Commissary for Foreign Affairs has forwarded to His Majesty's Government a request that the necessary measures may be taken to stop the compulsory recruiting of Russians in England. We are still considering the nature of the reply to be returned.
§ 17. Sir H. NIELDasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British Government claims the right to impress foreigners into her armies; if so, whether there is a corresponding right for Russia to call up British subjects resident in Russia; does the Soviet Government recognise exemption granted to British subjects resident in Russia; by whom are such exemptions being granted; and are there any and what corresponding exemptions being granted to Russians in this country, and by whom?
§ Lord R. CECILThe hon. Member is aware that, by the terms of the Military Service (Conventions with Allied States) Act, His Majesty's Government have power- to incorporate in the British Army citizens or subjects of an Allied State, with whom His Majesty's Government have made a Convention or agreement for the purpose, if the persons in question do not elect within a certain period to return to their own country for service in its Army. The Military Ser vice Agreement with Russia entitled His Majesty's Government to make use of this power over Russian subjects, and gave the Russian Government a corresponding right to call up British subjects 1210 in Russia. I do not think that the question of the Soviet Government recognising or not recognising exemptions from military service issued to British subjects arises, since there is now no Army in Russia from service in which British subjects could be exempted. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply returned to the hon. Member for North Somerset on 30th April last.
Sir F. HALLIf these Russians are not going to be put into our Army, would it not be better in the circumstances that they should be deported to their own country?
§ Lord R. CECILI will consider that.
Colonel THORNECan the Noble Lord state whether there is any Soviet Government? Is he aware that anarchists do not believe in government at all?
§ 22. Sir H. NIELDasked the Minister of National Service whether Ukrainians or Poles resident in the United Kingdom are being called up for national service in the British Army; and, in such event, whether, in determining the status of an alien-born subject and his liability for military service, Russian or British law should be applied, and in particular in deciding the question who is a Russian subject within the terms of the Convention with Russia of July, 1917?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of NATIONAL SERVICE (Mr. Beck)Natives of the Ukraine or Russian Poland, who are resident in this country, and are of military age, as prescribed by the Anglo-Russian Military Service Convention, are being called up for service in the British Army in the same manner as other Russian subjects in this country. The latter part of the question appears to relate to the construction of an Act of Parliament, and if a case arose where the liability to military ser vice was disputed, I assume it would be a matter for the Courts to decide.
§ 18. Sir H. NIELDasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that Mr. Abraham Glucksmann, of New York, has been arrested by the London police and fined £20 for failing to report himself under the Russian Convention of 1917, he having received his first papers as an American citizen and having formally renounced his allegiance to Russia, and that his arrest has been 1211 effected notwithstanding that he had previously voluntarily offered to serve in the English Army but was refused acceptance; and if he will state what steps he proposes to take to remove the results of this action?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Brace)My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I am advised that the fact that this man made a Declaration of Intention to become an American citizen, and purports to have renounced allegiance to Russia, does not confer American citizenship on him or affect his Russian nationality. I am not aware that he volunteered for service in the British Army and was refused. The information in my possession shows that after making several endeavours to leave this country for America in 1916 he applied to go to Russia under the Convention in 1917, but failed to take the opportunity of doing so which was afforded him. I see no ground for taking any action in the case.