§ 40. Major NEWMANasked the President of the Local Government Board whether the Shoreditch and Bethnal Green Tribunals have protested against sending back wounded soldiers to the front while thousands of Russian aliens are allowed to walk the streets immune from military service; and is it intended to resuscitate the tribunal that dealt with such aliens, in order that, if fit for any form of military service and not possessing other necessary reasons for exemption, they may be forthwith set to work of national importance?
Mr. WALSHMy right hon. Friend has not received information of protests of the kind stated by the hon. and gallant Member. The question of resuscitating the special tribunal to which the hon. and gallant Member refers must depend upon the decision reached by the Government upon the larger question.
§ Major NEWMANIs the hon. Gentleman aware that this tribunal, when it ceased work, had more than 4,000 cases to deal with?
Mr. WALSHI am aware that it had a very great many, but, as the hon. Member knows, the whole conditions have changed.
§ Major NEWMANWill not these men want classification now?
§ 45. Mr. KINGasked the Prime Minister whether the War Cabinet has now considered the position of Russians in the Army and in this country; whether any policy has been decided upon; whether Russian subjects are liable to, or free to offer for, National Service; if so, under what conditions; and whether Russian subjects in Britain may consider them selves as Allied or neutral aliens?
§ 55 and 56. Major NEWMANasked the Prime Minister (1) whether, owing to want of co-ordination and overlapping of authority between the Local Government Board, the Home Office, the Ministry of National Service, and the Ministry of Labour, no policy can be decided on dealing with the employment of Russian males of military age in this country; will he say to which Ministry the solution of the question has now been entrusted; (2) whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction prevailing in parts of the Metropolis owing to the inability of the Government to either employ the 20,000 aliens of Russian nationality and of military age on work of national importance or deport them from the country; and will he say when the War Cabinet will come to a decision on the question?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI regret that I am unable at present to add anything to the answers which have already been given with regard to the position of Russians in this country. The whole subject is being considered by the various Departments concerned in all its aspects.
§ Mr. KINGCannot the right hon. Gentleman give us some indication whether Russians in this country are friendly aliens or neutral aliens? It is a matter which becomes of great importance to them in their daily life and avocations.
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI have already said that I can give no more information than is contained in the answers that I have already given on the subject.