§ 35. Mr. Gallacherasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Mr. John Milne, of Glasgow, who attempted to join the Territorial Army recently was rejected after he had informed the authorities that he had seen service in Spain with the International Brigade; and whether any general or specific instructions have been issued that ex-members of the International Brigade are to be refused admission to the Regular or Territorial Army?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaI am informed that Mr. Mime has made a statement to the effect indicated in the question, and that the unit referred to is the 80th Field Brigade in Glasgow. The adjutant of the unit states that no incident of this sort had ever been reported to him, and that after due inquiry he has been unable to 201 find any officer or non-commissioned officer who knows anything whatever about it; and further, that no instructions authorising the rejection of ex-members of the International Brigade have been issued in the unit.
§ Mr. GallacherIs the Minister aware that Mr. Milne was rejected and was given no information to show why he was rejected; may we take it that no ban of this kind will be allowed to operate in the Territorial Army; and can we also take it that the remark of the judge when he sentenced a Communist to 18 months will not be taken into account when Communists who were members of the International Brigade offer themselves for this Service?
Miss RathboneWill the right hon. Gentleman be willing to give the utmost encouragement to members of the International Brigade, both British and foreign, to join, seeing that they have had unique experience of modern warfare?