§ Sir A. H0LBROOKasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs it he is aware that the French Government conferred, on 16th April.1921, the Legion of Honour on Lieut.-Colonel George R. Crosfield, Captain Ernest B. B. Towse, V.C., and Captain Frank Dudley Taylor: that these decorations were returned by the Foreign Office to the French Government; that the offers were repeated in November, 1921, and in February, 1922, and on each occasion refused on the ground that British subjects have not been allowed to accept foreign orders or decorations since 1921: and that notwithstanding these refusals, a list of allied decorations awarded to other British officers was published in March, 1922; and whether, in these circumstances, the decision can be reconsidered and permission given to the officers named to accept the decorations conferred upon them in recognition of their gallantry?
Mr. HARMSWORTHNo intimation of the desire of the French Government to decorate the three officers named has been received at the Foreign Office. Last year the ordinary peace-time regulations governing the acceptance of foreign honours were restored, and the allied Governments were accordingly informed that no fresh nominations for the bestowal of decorations on British subjects for war services could be sanctioned. The list published last March was not issued by the Foreign Office, but I have no doubt that it recorded awards made on nominations which had been agreed to before the restoration of the peace-time regulations.