§ Mr. HEWINSasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the case of three naturalized Canadians, formerly Russians, who, upon a visit to Russia, have been sentenced to Siberia for life on a charge of evading military service; whether, as stated in the Canadian House of Commons by Sir Wilfred Laurier, on 16th April, the British authorities have declined to interfere, or whether, as the late Canadian Prime Minister asserted, it is the right and duty of the British Government to protect persons possessing Canadian naturalization?
§ Mr. ACLANDHis Majesty's Government have no information on the subject. They could not, however, claim to protect Russian subjects, when within the limits of the Emperor's Dominions, from any consequences attaching to them for breach of the laws of Russia, whether they had been naturalised in Canada or in this country. The law of Russia would, in such cases, be the governing law, and no question of difference between British and Canadian nationality would arise.