§ 61 and 62. Captain Cunningham-Reidasked the Secretary of State for Air (1) whether the rule that the Royal Air Force 1593 will only accept as recruits British subjects whose fathers were British subjects is still in force;
(2) as the sons of alien political prisoners can now join the Royal Air Force, as instanced by the precedent of Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia, does that policy apply to all aliens and, in future, can German and Austrian refugees, if they wish and after suitable inquiries have been made, be allowed to join the Royal Air Force instead of being restricted to the Pioneer Corps?
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Air (Captain Harold Balfour)The peacetime rule governing the exclusion of aliens from the Royal Air Force was removed by Order in Council on 28th September, 1939, which was applicable to His Majesty's Forces generally. It is accordingly open to aliens to apply to join the Royal Air Force and they can be entered for service provided their bona fides is established and they are in all other respects suitable.
§ Captain Cunningham-ReidSurely the man who betrayed Yugoslavia and this country is an enemy of this country? Further is not the answer I have just received, to use the Under-Secretary's own words yesterday, nothing more or less than "political tinsel"?
§ Captain BalfourNo, Sir. The Question refers not to the boy's father but to the boy himself, who has gallantly offered to give his life if necessary for the cause in which he believes. If every boy was to be judged according to the actions of his father, things would be very difficult.
§ Captain Cunningham-ReidBut surely the Government when considering the son must take into consideration such a bad and sinister record as this father has?