11. Lieutenant-Colonel MALONEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Kherson has been evacuated by the Allies; whether they left on account 2878 of the activities of the Petlurist troops under Ataman Grigorieff; whether this signifies that the Petlurists have now deserted the Allies and joined the Bolshevists; and whether it is now at all possible to define clearly what forces we are actually combating in South Russia?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Churchill)The answer to the first part of my hon. and gallant Friend's question is in the affirmative. The answer to the second part is that the attack on Kherson was carried out by the troops under Ataman Grigorieff who had previously seceded from Petlura and joined the Bolsheviks. As regards the third part of the question, such troops as remain loyal to Petlura—the number is unknown—are of anti-Bolshevik tendencies and are resisting the Soviet forces in Volhynia with some measure of success. In answer to the last part of the question the Allied forces in South Russia are opposing the Red Army of the Russian Soviet Government. There are no British troops in this theatre.
17. Mr. TYSON WILSONasked the Secretary of State for War whether soldiers are being sent from Mesopotamia to Russia?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLA small number of officers and men who have volunteered for the duty have been sent from Mesopotamia to Russia.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODHas the right hon. Gentleman observed in the Press an account of the march of troops from Mesopotamia to the Caspian in order to get to Baku, and the fact that they are suffering very serious hardships—are these the men he refers to?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLNo, Sir. I have not noticed that.
Mr. T. WILSONAre we to understand from what the right hon. Gentleman has said that only volunteers are going?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe question refers to sending soldiers from Mesopotamia to Russia. A small number of officers and men have volunteered, and have been sent there.
§ Captain W. BENNWill the right hon. Gentleman adhere to his pledge that no conscripts shall be sent to Russia?
§ Colonel WEDGWOODDoes the right hon. Gentleman include Baku in Russia?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLBaku is the end of the railway line through the Caucasus. At present it is being guarded by a British Army. This Army is not in contact with the enemy, and only remains there pending the decision of the Peace Conference.
§ Captain BENNWill the right hon. Gentleman kindly answer my question: Is the pledge to be observed that no conscript shall be sent to Russia?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLYes, Sir. It is perfectly true there are in Russia at the present time, cut off in the North, men who were called out under the Military Service Acts, but the Relief Force will be composed of volunteers.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWill the right hon. Gentleman answer —[HON. MEMBERS: "Order, order!"] Does that exclude the possibility —[HON. MEMBEKS: "Order, order!"] Does my right hon. Friend's answer exclude the possibility of men having been sent from Mesopotamia to Baku on the ground that Baku, in the judgment of the right hon. Gentleman, is not in Russia?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLNo, Sir. Any man who has been sent from Mesopotamia is a volunteer. It is only a handful of men.