§ 13. Major Petherickasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why there was no Explanatory Memorandum attached to the French Visiting Forces (Colonies) Order (S.R. & O., No. 1380, of 1943), having regard to the fact that this Order involved reference to three Acts of Parliament and three Statutory Rules and Orders; and what was the purpose of the Order?
§ Mr. LawThe purpose of this Order was to enable the French Committee of National Liberation to exercise jurisdiction over the forces of that Committee which are for the time being in British Colonies and mandated territories, and 1360 to enable provision to be made for the relations between those Forces and the civilian authorities concerned. The need for this fresh provision arose from the constitution and recognition of the French Committee of National Liberation. Before this Order was made, the position of these Forces was governed by the Allied Forces (Application of Acts to Colonies, etc.) (No. 2) Order, 1941, which is now revoked. No change of substance is involved. The Order contains full recitals explaining both the position of Allied Forces generally in the Colonies and mandated territories, and the reason for which fresh provision was required in the case of French Forces. In these circumstances, the addition of an explanatory memorandum was considered unnecessary.