§ Mr. NUTTALLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state in which countries in Europe the Government compels its citizens to join the Army for foreign service, the classes of persons enrolled, and the conditions of enrolment; and whether he can state how the French Government procured soldiers for service in Tonkin and how the German Government procured soldiers for service in South Africa against the Herreros?
§ Lord ROBERT CECILThe only countries in Europe in which compulsory service abroad is demanded from citizens are France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Spain, and in all cases the conditions of such service are strictly limited. In France, for instance, the Colonial Army is recruited from voluntary enlistment, but any shortage is made up by compulsory enlistment. The classes of persons enrolled and the conditions of enrolment of men compelled to serve in the Colonial Army are the same as in the Home Service Army, namely, for three years; but, as a general rule, the maximum term of foreign service in such cases is one year. In Germany, marines are liable to serve in any part of the world. As regards other conscripts, the oath of enlistment permits of their being sent to serve on land or sea, in war or peace, in any locality. Heretofore, however, it has never been the custom for Germany to send any except volunteers to foreign possessions. In Italy, only volunteers are sent on foreign service; but, if the necessary number of volunteers are not forthcoming, the Government can detach men to make up the deficit. There is, however, no direct evidence that this has been done, although it is likely that whole regiments were detached in this manner for service in Libya. Foreign service in Portugal is voluntary, but failing volunteers officers and non-commissioned officers at the1634W bottom of the list of seniority are selected. Volunteers are also taken as privates, and, failing sufficient supplies, men are forced to serve who failed to present themselves punctually for enlistment. In Spain men who fail to present themselves at the right time are sent to the Balearic Islands and Canaries if enough recruits cannot be obtained locally. For service in North Africa men are recruited in Spain voluntarily; deficiencies are made good compulsorily from men who have received imprisonment. As regards the second part of the question, the French Expeditionary Force to Tonkin in 1884 was composed of Home Service Troops, Marine Infantry, Foreign Legion Troops, African Infantry, and Native Troops from Cochin China. I have no information as to the conditions under which the Home Service Troops were sent. The Marine Infantry and Foreign Legion were liable for service abroad. They were both recruited partly from voluntary and partly from compulsory enlistment. Against the Hereros the Germans employed the Schutztruppen of the Colony of German South-West Africa, recruited by volunteers from the Home Service Army.