§ Mr. KINGasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Harold Skjalm Banks, a born Danish subject, naturalised as British in Australia, but, according to recent legal decisions, held to remain a Danish subject in Great Britain, was arrested in August. 1916, in Glasgow, as a military absentee, imprisoned without trial, and handed over to the military authorities at Hamilton Barracks; that his letters from his parents in Copenhagen have been intercepted by the military authorities; that he has been advised that he has good ground for an action for false imprisonment; and that he is still being persecuted by the military 936W authorities; whether, under any recent convention of law, the War Office claims the right to force Danish subjects into the British Army; and what action he proposes to take?
§ Mr. BECKMy hon. Friend has asked me to reply. Inquiries are being made into this case, and I will inform the hon. Member of the result. I may add that there is no power under which Danish subjects can be compulsorily enlisted into the British Army unless they also possess British nationality in Great Britain.