§ 58. Mr. Manderasked the Secretary of State for War whether any instructions have at any time been issued by the War Office to units of the Regular or Territorial Army regarding the undesirability of accepting as recruits, persons who have served in the International Brigade in Spain?
§ Sir V. WarrenderI have nothing to add to the answer given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Jarrow (Miss Wilkinson) on 23rd May last.
§ Mr. ManderIs it not clear that that answer did not deal with the point I am asking to-day, and is it not the case, and is it not well known to many persons, that instructions have been issued by the War Office to units saying that no British subject who has served in the International Brigade shall be accepted for the Army?
§ Sir V. WarrenderThe facts as stated by the hon. Gentleman are not accurate. Such orders have not been issued. Like any employer in civil life, the army reserves the right to inquire into the character of recruits.
§ Mr. ManderDo I understand the Minister to say that no instructions of any kind bearing on this subject have been issued to units referring to service in the International Brigade? Do I understand him to say that in view of what many of us know?
§ Sir V. WarrenderThe hon. Member must not understand that. What I say is that no instructions have been issued that men should be rejected on the ground of service in the International Brigade.
§ Miss WilkinsonOn a point of Order. A slur has been cast by the Financial Secretary on a body of heroic and fine citizens of this country. Have I your permission, Mr. Speaker, to ask him to withdraw?
§ Mr. GallacherOn a point of Order. In view of the fact that I personally know a man who was refused admission to the Army because he was in the International Brigade—
§ Mr. Speaker rose—
§ Miss WilkinsonOn a point of Order. Have you not yourself ruled on various occasions, Mr. Speaker, that slurs should not be cast either by private Members or by Ministers? May I appeal to you to ask the Financial Secretary to withdraw that slur?
§ Mr. SpeakerI heard no slur.
§ Mr. SilvermanYou said you heard no slur cast upon the character of these men, 1112 but did not the Minister say that no special instructions had been given to reject men who had come from the International Brigade, but that in connection with cases of that kind the Army reserves to itself the right to inquire into their character and references?
§ Mr. SpeakerI did not hear that, but perhaps the Financial Secretary would like to explain.
§ Sir V. WarrenderI think there has been some little misunderstanding. Any man who offers himself as a recruit for the Army may have to produce a reference, and these men are treated in exactly the same way as—
§ Miss WilkinsonYou know that that is not true.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Lady speaks of casting slurs, but surely she is casting a slur now, and she ought certainly to withdraw that remark.
§ Miss WilkinsonI will certainly withdraw if the Minister will withdraw first.
§ Mr. SilvermanOn a point of Order—
§ Mr. SpeakerAn explanation has been given.
§ Mr. SilvermanThe point of Order I wish to raise is that. I put something to you which you said you did not hear, and you said at the same time that the Minister might like the opportunity of explaining. In the course of that explanation, owing to an incident with which I had no concern, the Financial Secretary was stopped, and I wish now to ask whether we ought not to have the completion of the explanation which the Minister was making.
§ Mr. SpeakerI think the explanation was given.
§ Mr. GallacherI want to give notice that, owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the answer, I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.