24. Miss. Wardasked the Secretary of State for War the reason for the issue of the recent instruction's to the Auxiliary-Territorial Service giving permission to Rumanians, Bulgarians and Hungarians to enlist in any branch of the service and freeing them from the necessity of volunteering for the alien section of the service?
§ Captain MargessonMy hon. Friend appears to be under a misapprehension. The alien platoons of the Auxiliary Territorial Service are confined to enemy aliens, that is, persons of German, Austrian or Italian nationality. Rumanians, Bulgarians and Hungarians are not enemy aliens and are therefore eligible for enrolment in all branches of the Auxiliary Territorial Service, subject to their general suitability. They are not employed on confidential work. The object of the instructions to which my hon. Friend refers was that applications for enrolment from persons of these nationalities should, in future, be submitted on the more detailed form used for enemy aliens. In other words, their applications are to be subjected to closer crutiny than was the case heretofore.
Miss WardIs it possible under present Regulations for Rumanians, Hungarians, or Bulgarians to be used to drive officers of the British Army?
§ Captain MargessonYes, Sir. My answer shows clearly that they are eligible for enrolment in all branches of the Auxiliary Territorial Service. They are not employed on confidential work.
Miss WardIs my right hon. and gallant Friend thoroughly satisfied that that is a good policy, in view of the fact that these drivers can enter secret Defence areas when they are driving high officers?
§ Captain MargessonWe must use a bit of common sense in these matters.
§ Mr. Noel-BakerIn view of the fact that the Bulgarian Government pursued a course of action very deleterious to this country, ought not applications from 20 Bulgarians to be treated with the greatest reserve?
§ Captain MargessonMost certainly, Sir, and that is the reason for the tightening-up of the Regulations.