§ 4. Mr. KINGasked the Under-Secretary for War whether he is aware that Russian subjects are liable to be conscripted into the British Army; that many Russian subjects have volunteered for the British Army even before the military convention; that many are now serving, but that Russians of low category are refused for service in the Red Cross because of their nationality; and whether it is the intention to allow Russians to die on the field of battle but not to allow Russians to serve the wounded and dying?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe Government recently decided that all Russians now called up under the convention should be posted to a non-combatant branch of the Army. It was agreed that these men would be most usefully employed in special units of the Labour Corps, for which men are more urgently required than for the Royal Army Medical Corps, and they are accordingly being posted to such units.
§ Mr. KINGDoes that mean that those who have been posted in combatant units are being withdrawn from these combatant units and being placed in non-combatant units?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONNo; it does not.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEDid not the Prime Minister state in this House that the Labour Battalions were combatant units?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member cannot be held responsible for statements made by the Prime Minister.
§ Mr. KINGDoes not the last part of my question still hold good that Russians are in combatant units dying, but they are not allowed to serve the wounded and dying who are their own countrymen?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI think I have fully answered the question.