§ Mr. NIELDasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that on the date when he expressed the opinion that it was not desirable to modify the rule that no alien should be enrolled in the Volunteer Force, the Military Service (Convention with Allied States) Act, 1917, had not then been passed; whether the passing of such Act materially alters the circumstances; and, if so, whether he will reconsider the position in which Russian subjects are placed who are ordered by tribunals to join the Volunteer Force?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI do not think that the passing of the Act referred to alters the situation, as far as the Volunteers are concerned. As I pointed out, the difference between the Volunteer and the full-time soldier is that the former is only subject to military supervision during actual drill or training. Discrimination between aliens would be difficult, and it is therefore thought better to exclude them all. I understand that my right hon. Friend the President of the Local 2245W Government Board is about to call the .attention of tribunals to the fact that aliens are not eligible for the Volunteer Force.