§ Mr. SITCHasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that at a meeting of soldiers held on the 20th June, in Poona, a resolution of protest was carried protesting against the use of transport for the conveyance of troops to England for the Peace celebrations whilst a number of men who applied six months ago for leave on compassionate grounds were still being retained in the depot; whether he is aware of the unrest which exists because of the statement that only volunteers have been sent up to the Afghan frontier; and whether he will take immediate steps to release all those men who have not volunteered for retention in India?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI have no information with regard to the protest meeting mentioned by the hon. Member in the first part of his question. As regards the latter part I would refer him to the answers which I gave yesterday and on Tuesday on this subject. We are arranging to release the retained men as early as possible. Battalions are going out every week to relieve them. Meanwhile, however, the position on the Indian frontier is such as to call for a large force, and the Indian authorities must have full latitude to deal with the troops, until they can be replaced, to the best possible advantage.