§ 19. Mr. HOGGEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government has received a protest from the Russian Soviet against the conscription of Russian subjects in this country; what reply has been made to it; and whether he can state if any Russian subjects are now being called up for any purpose whatever?
§ Lord R. CECILThe protest is being considered. Russian subjects are being called up to serve in labour battalions.
§ Mr. KINGCan any date be fixed when our reply will be given? It has been under consideration for a fortnight, I think.
§ Lord R. CECILNo, Sir.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODAre the Russian subjects permitted to join Jewish regiments, if they are of that faith, instead of labour battalions?
§ Lord R. CECILWill the hon. and gallant Gentleman be kind enough to give me notice of that question?
§ 21. Mr. KINGasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that Russian Poles were subjects of the ex-Czar of Russia qua King of Poland; whether he will lay upon the Table of this House a copy of the decree issued by the Russian Provisional Government on the 29th March, 1917, proclaiming the independence of Poland as a whole, including that part then in enemy occupation; and whether the military convention with Russia of 16th July, 1917, extends to Polish subjects, formerly Russian subjects, whom the Russian authorities which entered into the convention had declared to be independent of Russia?
§ Lord R. CECILThe first part of the question is a matter of history on which the hon. Member is in as good a position to form an opinion as I am. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. The convention does extend to Poles.