HC Deb 12 December 1928 vol 223 cc2089-91
1. Mr. HORE-BELISHA

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any instruction is issued to officials at the ports with regard to passports for recruits for the French Foreign Legion?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Godfrey Locker-Lampson)

If it is the hon. Member's intention to suggest that such persons should be restrained from leaving the country, the answer is that I have no power to take such action.

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the French authorities in this country enlist Englishmen for the French Foreign Legion, and tell them that they can dispense entirely with a passport; and, when this comes to the knowledge of the Foreign Office, would it not be advisable, in view of what the Foreign Secretary has said on this subject, to stop people leaving this country, particularly when they are under 21?

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON

The hon. Gentleman will remember that I wrote him a long letter on this subject a short time ago and I think that that covers the particular point which he is now raising. As a matter of fact, the French authorities do not give certificates to anybody whom they believe to be under 21.

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Foreign Secretary said that it was most undesirable for any Englishman to be enlisted in this country, and that he uttered a warning in this House; and, seeing that this practice may be continued by the French authorities, cannot he offer some protection to these young people, and spare their parents the anxiety of having to lose their sons for five years in the French Foreign Legion?

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON

I hope that the hon. Gentleman's questions and the answers given by the Government will have the effect of discouraging Englishmen from joining the Legion.

Sir BERTRAM FALLE

Is not a man obliged to take an oath before a magistrate before he joins this Legion, and would it not be well for the magistrates to punt out what he must expect?

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON

I do not think that that is the case. If a young man desires to enlist, he has to assert before the Secretary of the French Military Attache that he is over 21.

Mr. DAY

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how many of these cases have been brought to the notice of the Foreign Office?

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON

I should have to have notice of that question.

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

If I go to France, do I not have to produce a passport, which is looked at at the port of embarkation, and why is it dispensed with in this particular case?

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON

I do not think that it is dispensed with in any exceptional way. If it is asserted by the young person that he is 21 years of age, I do not think that it is possible to prevent him going to France.

2. Mr. HORE-BELISHA

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will consider the advisability of representing to the French authorities that the present practice of assisting applicants for enlistment in the French Foreign Legion by paying passage money from this country to France should cease?

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON

No, Sir. I have nothing to add to the replies given to the hon. Member by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on the B6th July.

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

Considering that the Foreign Secretary uttered a warning against this practice of young Englishmen joining the French Foreign Legion, cannot he take some steps to represent to the French authorities the inadvisability of their encouraging young Englishmen joining?

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON

I do not think that the French authorities do encourage there to join. If a young man turns up at the French Embassy, and says that he is 21 years of age and desires to enlist, all that the French authorities do is to hand him a return ticket to Dunkirk.

Mr. MACLEAN

Is there anything in the laws of this country to prevent any Englishman, Scotsman or Irishman enlisting in the army of a foreign country?

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON

The hon. Gentleman goes a little too far when he says that.

Mr. WELLOCK

Have we any figures showing how many Britons have joined this Legion?

Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSON

I should have to have notice of that question.