§ Mr. DENNIS HERBERT (by private notice)asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that British officers to the number of nearly 100 of the Labour Corps and from Siberia are detained at Shanghai unable to obtain passages to England before October next: that they are unable to obtain any pay at Shanghai, and that the detention allowances at the present rate of exchange are equal to only two dollars per day, while the lowest possible hotel accommodation in the British Concession costs seven dollars per day: whether he is aware that the likelihood of these officers becoming dependent on charity unless something is immediately done for them is considered by the British residents in Shanghai to be not only a hardship on the officers concerned, but a serious detriment to British prestige in China; and whether to meet the difficulty he will arrange for the officers in question to be moved to military quarters at Hong Kong, and authorise the local authorities to make advances at their discretion to these officers to meet their present needs?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONThis is the first intimation that the War Office has received of this matter. I will have enquiry made at once, and see what can be done.
§ Mr. HERBERTIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the telegram, copy of which I sent to the Secretary of State for War, has been received from an officer in His Majesty's Army holding high rank, who has been well-known as a prominent person in Shanghai for a great many years, and may be thoroughly depended upon?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONI was not aware of the source of the cable, but the matter will be seen to immediately.