§ 20. Major LANE-FOXasked the Secretary of State for War whether Private N. Copley, No. 14632, Machine Gun Corps, 1133 enlisted in 1915 and is therefore eligible for demobilisation now; whether he is in this country and has received orders to rejoin his unit in Russia to be demobilised; and whether it is possible to get his demobilisation effected in this country and so save to the building trade a man who is at present badly wanted?
Captain GUESTI would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer which I gave to a similar question by my hon. Friend the Member for Kettering on the 10th instant. Soldiers eligible for demobilisation and who do not volunteer to return to North Russia whilst on leave from that theatre will not be sent back there and will be demobilised in their turn.
§ Major LANE-FOXIs it not a fact that this man, who enlisted in 1915, has as a matter of fact been sent back to Russia?
§ Major LANE-FOXIs he aware that J have received a letter from this man's father, saying that he has been sent back and that he sailed for Russia a few days ago, and if so, is it necessary to send him back to Russia merely for the purpose of demobilisation?
Captain GUESTNo. There are two distinct questions in connection with this matter. One is the case of a demobilisable man, who certainly should not have been sent back to Russia, and if he has it is a mistake, but in the case of a man who is not to be demobilised, he has to go back to rejoin his unit so as to be demobilised en bloc.
§ Major LANE-FOXWill he give an undertaking, as this man is clearly to be demobilised, that he will be demobilised at once?
§ Captain W. BENNDoes he mean to say that the Secretary of State's pledge that no more should be sent to Russia only applies to North Russia? He said North Russia.
Sir F. HALLIn view of the transport difficulties, cannot some arrangement be 1134 made so that those men who are to be demobilised shall not be sent overseas, and thereby save a lot of transport?
§ Major NALLIs it not a fact that a number of men who are in the categories eligible for demobilisation have come back out of their turn on compassionate leave and are expected to go backs?
Captain GUESTNo. If men are liable for demobilisation they will not be sent back to Russia and ought not to have been sent back if they have.
§ Mr. GWYNNEWill he reconsider the case I brought to his notice some ten days ago of a precisely similar character, where the man was sent back to Russia?
36. Lieut.-Colonel Sir J. HOPEasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of his statement that soldiers who were in North Russia last winter will start for home in September, he will give instructions that such men who are now on leave in this country should not again be sent to Russia for the purpose of remaining there only a few weeks?
Captain GUESTInstructions have been issued that men on leave from North Russia who are eligible for demobilisation shall be retained, and that the others must return until the force as a whole can be brought away.
Sir J. HOPEDoes he realise that according to the Memorandum of the Secretary of State for War these men will start for home in September—that is to say, those men who were in Russia last winter—and, therefore, this man; and is it really necessary that he should go back at the end of July, to start back again in four weeks' time, at great expense to the country and considerable inconvenience to the man?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Churchill)Obviously, a point is reached when the time remaining is too short to make it worth while to send a man back, and when that point is reached the man will not be sent back, but we must adhere to the principle that men who go on leave return to their duty at the end of their leave. If we did not adhere to that principle the alternative would be to stop the leave.
§ Captain W. BENNWhen will the evacuation of North Russia by British troops be completed?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAll the troops except the Military Missions—men who volunteer for the Military Missions—will have left North Russia, if all goes well, before the ice closes in, and we may take that as the early part of November, being the final date when the White Sea will be free; but, of course, the troops there are in contact with the enemy, who is pressing them in many ways and at many points, and as they begin to depart the local Russians are naturally much upset, and much dissatisfaction and weakness occurs behind. Therefore the situation is one which requires very careful attention. A most difficult and delicate operation is in process, and one in which we deserve the fullest support of all sections of the House.
Sir J. HOPEWill he not be able to state at what point exactly it is that men will not be sent back? This man to whom I am referring is already promised that he shall be returned to this country in September; and he is still in this country, and it takes a fortnight to get there and another fortnight to come back?
§ Mr. CHURCH1LLI think he had better go out and be there for the critical four weeks when the operations of a critical nature are going on. He should go back to join his comrades there. He was given leave on the understanding that he would return, and I think he ought to return.
§ Major LANE-FOXCannot this rule about demobilised men on leave, which is clearly a good one in the case of France, be relaxed, so that men eligible for demobilisation should not be sent back to Russia merely to come back home again?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLWe are dealing with the cases of quite a few individuals, and I have no doubt we shall get individual hard cases, but I am not prepared to make any modification of the rule that when a man is given leave he returns from his leave.