§ 61. Sir R. Rossasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what will be the policy of the Government as to the civilian employment of Eireann citizens with the Armed Forces after 18th April.
§ The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Glenvil Hall)This has not yet been settled in detail either for the Civil Service as a whole or for the Service Departments in particular, but the revised rules will observe the spirit of the Prime Minister's undertaking, given in this House on 25th November, 1948, that citizens of Eire shall not be treated as foreigners.
§ Sir R. RossWill the Financial Secretary bear in mind that Eire citizens will thus be bearing allegiance to another State whose policies may be distinguishable from ours, and therefore, is it wise that they should serve in connection with the Armed Forces?
§ Mr. Glenvil HallThese matters were discussed when the British Nationality Act, 1948, was going through the House, and I am afraid I cannot add anything to what was said then by Government spokesmen.
§ Mr. Martin LindsayIn view of the fact that Eire is not a signatory nation to the Atlantic Pact, does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the Prime Minister should reconsider that policy?
§ Professor SavoryIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that, when the British Nationality Act was passing through this House, Eire was then part of the British Commonwealth of Nations, and that, therefore, his answer is wholly irrelevant?