HC Deb 18 June 1930 vol 240 cc371-2
1. Mr. DAY

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information about and can state the number of British subjects who have joined the French Foreign Legion during the 12 months ended to the last convenient date; whether his attention has been drawn to any particular cases of youths under 21 years who have left Great Britain for the purpose of joining this corps during the same period; can he state whether any discussion has recently taken place between the Foreign Office and the French authorities with reference to this subject; and will he give particulars?

The SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Arthur Henderson)

I regret that I have no information as to the number of British subjects who have joined the French Foreign Legion during the last 12 months. During this period my attention has been drawn to the cases of two youths who enlisted while under 21 years of age, but no discussions have taken place with the French authorities regarding them. In this connection, I may perhaps refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my predecessor to the hon. Member for Devonport (Mr. Hore-Belisha) on the 25th of July, 1928, in which it was pointed out that the French Government decline to consider the release of any person from the Legion unless he was under 18 years of age when he enlisted, and that they do not knowingly accept for enlistment any person under that age.

Mr. DAY

Can my right hon. Friend say whether these two youths had passports, or whether they were given their fares by the French authorities to join the Legion?

Mr. HENDERSON

I am afraid I must have notice of that question.

Mr. MARJORIBANKS

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether these youths joining the Foreign Legion are not committing a breach of the Foreign Enlistment Act?

Mr. HENDERSON

I think not. At any rate, according to the answers to which I have already referred, I think they are not.

Mr. CHARLES WILLIAMS

Would it not be possible to get information as to the approximate number of British subjects who are in the Legion?