§ 25. Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for War what is the estimated period for which the British troops will be required at Memel, Dantzig, and Silesia, respectively; whether the conscript troops will be relieved by volunteers, and, if so, when; whether it is intended to relieve the young soldiers under the ages of nineteen and twenty, respectively; and whether other Allied troops are being sent on this service or only British troops?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIt is not possible to give with any accuracy the period for which the troops will be needed as it depends on the time required to organise local forces for the maintenance of order in Dantzig and Memel, and to settle the question of government after the declaration of the Plebiscite in the case of Silesia. It has, I understand, been suggested at the Supreme Council in Paris that twelve months will suffice for Memel and Dantzig and anything from eight to twenty months for Silesia. All conscript troops will be relieved by volunteers in sufficient time to admit of their dispatch homo for release in accordance with the programme laid down in Army Order 365 of October last. Young soldiers under the ages of nineteen and twenty who are conscript troops are included among those who will be relieved by volunteers. As I have already stated, Allied troops are being sent as well as British.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODMay I ask whether the retirement of the German delegates from Paris will postpone the arrival at and the sending of British troops to these places if they have not already gone?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLHow should I know?
§ Colonel WEDGWOODHave they left for Memel and Dantzig?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI have already stated that no troops have actually started.