§ Mr. Parkerasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why 600 Italians were sent back to Italy on the outbreak of war, and only 280 British returned to this country; and why some combatant officers were allowed to return with the Italian party?
§ Mr. ButlerOn the outbreak of war With Italy the usual arrangements were made for the reciprocal evacuation of the diplomatic and consular officers and staffs from the two countries and a provisional understanding was reached that all British and Italian nationals who desired to leave and whose departure was not prejudicial to the safety of the respective States would be repatriated as soon as possible. Negotiations between His Majesty's Ambassador in Rome and the Italian Government for the inclusion of an additional number of British subjects in the Italian ship were almost satisfactorily concluded on the 9th June, but on and from that date all telegraphic communication between His Majesty's Embassy and the Foreign Office and His Majesty's consular officers in Italy ceased and it was impossible to make the final arrangements for other British subjects to leave with the official party. No combatant officers other than Service Attachés with diplomatic immunity were allowed to leave on either ship.