§ 15. Mr. GILBERTasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any official information that Belgian boys and youths have recently been forced to labour behind the fighting lines in Belgium and France; and if any protest has been made through neutral countries by the Allies at this action of the German military authorities?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Balfour)The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I understand that the Belgian Government intends to make a protest, which will have the warmest sympathy of His Majesty's Government.