§ Mr. KINGasked the Minister of National Service whether he is aware that certain ex-officers of the Russian Army and other Russians recently released from the service of the Commission Internationale de Ravitaillement are in this country; and whether he intends to bring them under the operation of the Russian Military Convention?
§ Sir A. GEDDESIf by the term ex-officers of the Russian Army the hon. Member refers to Russian officers who, on the coming into operation of the Russian Military Service Convention, were employed in this country on work for the Russian Government and who have since ceased to hold commissions, I would remind the hon. Member that the Convention did not apply to these gentlemen until they ceased to hold commissions in the Russian Army, and that they cannot be called up for service in the British Army until such time as they have had an opportunity of returning to Russia. The other Russian subjects referred to in the question were granted certificates of exemption by the Russian Consular 445W authority on the ground that they were engaged on work for the Russian Government, and these men will not be called up for service until they have had an opportunity of returning to Russia under the Convention.