21. Mr. L'ESTRANGE MALONEasked the Secretary of State for War why the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars attended the French Army manoeuvres in the Rhineland under the command of General Guillaumat?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThe 8th Hussars is the only British cavalry regiment serving with the Rhine Army. The Army Council therefore gladly accepted the invitation of the French authorities that the regiment should take part in the French Army manoeuvres and thereby be given the opportunity of higher training with other cavalry which it would otherwise have lacked.
Mr. MALONEIs it in accordance with the spirit of Locarno to carry out military manoeuvres on occupied territory?
§ Captain GARRO-JONESDoes the right hon. Gentleman think that the, military advantage to be gained from these military manoeuvres is comparable to the diplomatic damage which will be done?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSSo long as we have an army it is desirable that it should be trained.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that the time has arrived for us entirely to withdraw our troops from the Rhineland?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON - EVANSThat does not arise out of this question.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODMr. Speaker will tell me that and not you.
§ Mr. THURTLEMay we take it that a precedent has now been created whereby if an invitation is extended to the War Office by the Soviet Government a regiment of British cavalry would be allowed to manoeuvre with the Red Army?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSNo, Sir.