§ 11. Mr. HURDasked the Secretary of State for War when he expects to be able to return to this country the troops who left Mesopotamia to be demobilised last March and who were detained in India because of the difficult situation then aris- 746 ing; and why these troops in India were excluded from his pledge that by the end of July all 1915 men would be sent home for release?
Captain GUESTAs regards the first part of the question, demobilisable men temporarily retained in India on account of the internal and other difficulties will be sent home as soon as reliefs can be provided. India was definitely excluded from my statement in the House on the 29th May regarding the release of 1914 and 1915 men, in view of the disturbances on the North-West Frontier, and so long as the position remains unsettled these troops cannot be withdrawn until reliefs arrive to take their place.