§ 51. Mr. RENNIE SMITHasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies in how many States of the British Empire military conscription obtains, the names of these States, the terms, and the people involved in this conscription?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Ormsby-Gore)Ceylon Ordinance No. 42 of 1916 prescribes that every European male resident in the Colony between certain ages must enrol in the local Defence Force. Fijian Defence Force Ordinance No. 3 of 1923 contains similar provisions. It has already been explained, in reply to a question regarding the European Defence Force Ordinance of the Colony and Protectorate of Kenya, that that Ordinance has not yet been received, but an undertaking has been given to place a copy in the Library. Apart from the above, there is no similar legislation in other non-self-governing Dependencies. The hon. Member addressed the question to my right hon. Friend in his capacity as Secretary of State for the Colonies. He will no doubt address a further question if he requires information in regard to those self-governing Dominions where compulsory military training is in force in different forms.
§ Mr. HARRISAs conscription is against the traditions of this country, could the hon. Member promise to give us an opportunity, where conscription is introduced by ordinances in non-self-governing Colonies, for this House to discuss those ordinances?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThey have been in force some time, and they can be discussed on the Colonial Office Estimates, but to describe this as the raising of a permanent conscript army is a mistake. It is rather a reserve force in mixed communities in cases of emergency.
§ Mr. HARRISWill they provide for conscientious objectors? Will people be allowed to refuse to serve?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI do not think that that appears in either of the two existing ordinances.