§ 23. Colonel Sir HAMAR GREENWOODasked whether in view of the fact that a large number of officers and men who came over from the South American Republics at their own expense and joined various branches of His Majesty's forces have already served three years, he will consider the possibility of granting a period of furlough, after three years' service, to these men to enable them to 163 proceed to their homes in Latin America on urgent business or family affairs; whether he will consider the possibility of making an allowance to them to cover some portion at least of their travelling expenses to this country from their homes in Latin America; and whether upon demobilisation He will arrange for them to be repatriated on at least as favourable conditions as those to be applied to the Colonial contingents?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI am afraid it is not possible to grant a period of furlough as suggested in the first part of the question, but any special cases brought to notice on the ground of urgent business or other reasons are always given every consideration. Refunds of travelling expenses may be granted under certain conditions to candidates with special qualifications who came from abroad during the earlier period of the War and were granted direct commissions. The question whether any extension of the existing concession can properly be made is at present under consideration, but it is improbable that a decision will be arrived at for some little time.
Passages to the place whence they came will be provided at the public expense on demobilisation for those who came from South America after the outbreak of war to join His Majesty's Forces under the conditions published from time to time. I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend the Army Orders and Army Council Instructions which have up to the present been issued on the subject.