THE EARL OF MAYOMy Lords, I desire to ask His Majesty's Government if the authorities in the French Protectorate of the Tunisia have arrested British subjects and forced them into French military service; and if any action will be or has been taken to protect British subjects from these arbitrary measures.
Under a Decree of the French Government British subjects were arrested in the streets of Tunis, taken to barracks, and forced into French military service. It is rather difficult to reconcile the cordial understanding between this country and France with their action in this matter, and I think I am correct in saying there is no precedent for such action. Moreover, the action of the French authorities may form a precedent for British subjects in other French Protectorates. What will be the result of this on our prestige in the Orient? I have been in Tunisia twice, and I cannot imagine what the Arabs must think when they see British subjects arrested in the streets of Tunis, taken off to barracks, and made to become French soldiers. I wonder what the Mussulman population think of these proceedings. I ask myself, and I ask your Lordships, What do the French want with these recruits whom they have forcibly obtained? So far as I know, there is no war going on; France is not fighting anywhere particularly. She has got troops, I know, in Syria, but what does she want with these recruits? I think I am justified in asking this Question because there is a very strong feeling indeed on this matter. I have reason to believe that the Foreign Office is perfectly aware of it, and has all the Papers with regard to the incident.
THE EARL OF CRAWFORDMy Lords, Reports which have recently been received by the Government from the Consul General at Tunis confirm the fact that action has been taken by the French authorities in Tunis in the sense indicated in the first part of the Question. The Government have strongly protested against this action which is the outcome of certain Decrees published in Tunis on November 8, 1921, whereby it was sought to impose French nationality and the consequent obligation of French military service on members of the British and other foreign communities resident in that Protectorate. On the publication of these Decrees His Majesty's Government challenged their legality in so 1048 far as they affected the British community in Tunis, and, having failed to receive any satisfaction from the French Government, demanded that the question should be submitted to arbitration. If the French Government decline to agree to this solution it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to lay the whole matter before the Council of the League of Nations.
THE EARL OF MAYOMy Lords, I hope you will allow me to say something further about this. I do not know what there is to arbitrate about. Suppose the case of a Frenchman in this country, who is collared in the streets of London, taken to Chelsea Barracks, and made to drill in the British Army—what would France say to that? That is exactly what has happened in Tunis. I do not see why it should be referred to the League of Nations; the matter might not be settled for months. This is not a great question, but surely it affects our prestige. I do not see how the Government can say it is a question for arbitration. British subjects have been arrested, and surely British subjects have a right to protection against any country which attempts to do such a thing. I think the House will be with me on that point. I must move for Papers, because I take the matter very seriously, and there are a great many other people who do so, too.
THE EARL OF CRAWFORDI must beg your Lordships not to accept a Motion for Papers without Notice from Lord Mayo on a Question on which he is apparently going to arraign the whole system of the League of Nations.
§ LORD SYDENHAMAre there any other nationals besides ours who have been treated in this way?
THE EARL OF CRAWFORDI think so. I gather that the Decree of November 8, 1921, did not apply only to us, because the words of the Foreign Office statement are that the action of the French Government involved "the consequent obligation of French military service on members of the British and other foreign communities resident in that Protectorate."
THE EARL OF CRAWFORDIt may make it worse, but in many ways it makes it much better. It at least shows there has been no discrimination against British subjects. If Lord Mayo desires to raise the question in a more formal fashion tomorrow he is free to do so. In doing so I hope he will indicate the alternative policy winch he would recommend the Government to adopt.
THE EARL OF CRAWFORDWe have protested very firmly, very decisively. We have offered arbitration, which is not an unreasonable thing to offer, as to whether the terms of this Decree conform to treaty rights. Should that fail, we take a further course and invite the Council of the League of Nations to determine the point. If Lord Mayo can suggest a more satisfactory method I hope he will do so to-morrow.