§ 37. Mr. KILEYasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that under the Allied Conventions a number of French, Italian and Russian subjects who are domiciled here with their families left Great Britain for their respective countries; whether he is aware that those of French or Italian origin have been freely allowed to return to Great Britain, whilst admittance of those of Russian origin have been refused on the grounds that instructions to this effect have been issued by the British Government; and will he state under what Law men domiciled in this country are not allowed to return to their wives and families, many of whom are of British birth and who are now kept by the British taxpayer?
§ Sir J. BAIRDThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. No distinction is made between French, Italians and Russians on the ground of nationality if they left in order to serve in the Allied armies; but, as there is reason to know that many Russians left this country professedly to serve in the Russian army but really to evade military service, such men are not re-admitted unless they show they have actually served in an Allied army. The law on the subject is contained in the Aliens Restriction Acts. 1914 and 1919, and the Aliens Order, 1920, Article 1.
§ Mr. KILEYMay I ask how these men are able to show that they have fought in the Russian Army, seeing that when they arrived in that country it was in a state of revolution?
§ Sir J. BAIRDThey have to satisfy the Consuls in order to get a visa before they can start on their journey.
§ Mr. KILEYBut if the country was in a state of revolution, was it not impossible for the men to join the army?
§ Sir J. BAIRDThere has always been a force fighting, one for the Allies and one against the Allies, and they could join either one or the other.