HC Deb 28 March 1939 vol 345 cc1873-4
28. Mr. Fleming

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider applications from Czech soldiers to be permitted to join units of the British Army?

Mr. Hore-Belisha

It is not the policy to enlist foreign nationals into units of the British Army.

Mr. Fleming

Arising out of that answer, which I could scarcely hear, may I ask whether it is a fact that several Czech soldiers have actually made application for permission to join the British Army and whether, if that be so, my right hon. Friend will consider the question of granting to these would-be recruits —good material—something like temporary nationalisation so that they can join up?

Mr. Hore-Belisha

I was not aware that several of them had made application, but they will be considered on their merits.

Mr. Mander

Has not the Secretary of State received a definite offer from a group of Czech officers placing their services at the disposal of the British Government and the British Army, and will he not consider those offers sympathetically?

Mr. McGovern

Has the right hon. Gentleman appealed to all the capitalists and bankers of the country and their sons to join the Army, and is there a shortage of them? After they go, the workers can be considered.

Mr. Leach

Were those offers received from the Czechs since the Government sold Czecho-Slovakia?

Back to