Written Answers
War
Rules Of War (Enemy Breaches)
asked the Prime Minister if it is the duty of any Department of the British Government to make a record of all illegal actions perpe- trated or ordered by the commanding officers of enemy forces during the War, with a view to demanding, at the conclusion of hostilities, that the offenders shall be brought to trial; and can he say if similar provision is made by any of our Allies?
Records of breaches by the enemy of the rules of war are kept by the various. Departments primarily concerned, and arrangements for co-ordinating the different cases have been made by the Foreign Office. I have no precise information as to what is being done by the Allied Governments, but, as the hon. Baronet is no doubt aware, several of the latter have published, and continue to publish from time to time, particulars of illegal acts committed by the enemy.
War Service Distinctions (Territorial Force)
asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the Army Council have considered the claim of the officers and men of the Territorial Force who were mobilised on the outbreak of war, and who have since served in one or other of the British Expeditionary Forces, to receive some distinction as some recompense for the years of service many gave before the outbreak of war?
I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my reply on the 5th March last to a question on this subject by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Reading, of which I am sending him a copy.
Prisoners Of War (Allowances)
asked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) whether he is aware of the expenditure of officer prisoners in Turkey on food, clothing, house rent, furniture, transport, and other bare necessities; whether he has received evidence from the Prisoners in Turkey Committee that the allowances recently fixed by the Dutch Minister at Constantinople are inadequate; what action is proposed in the matter; whether he is aware that the allowances made by the Dutch Minister, even if adequate in future, will not compensate officers for the expenditure already incurred; and whether he will lay it down as a principle that all expenses proved to have been incurred by prisoners in Turkey on the bare necessities of life, in excess of a reasonable sum to be fixed by the War Office, will be refunded to them at the rate of exchange current when the money was spent?
I explained the arrangements recently instituted by the representative of the Netherlands Government in answer to a question by my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Bassetlaw on the 20th June last, of which I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy. I am afraid it is not advisable at present to interfere with these arrangements, but, as my hon. Friend the Member for Central Sheffield stated yesterday, the Netherlands Minister has been consulted as to the advisability of establishing emergency funds at the various camps. As regards compensating officers and others for expenditure previously incurred, I regret I cannot make any definite promise, but any statements of such expenditure submitted by officers and men on their release will, of course, receive sympathetic consideration.
Railway Restrictions, Dowdeswell Station
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the desirability, in the interests of economy and public convenience, of closing Dowdeswell Station and dealing with the traffic at the near-by Andoversford Junction Station, Great Western Railway, through which trains using Dowdeswell Station always have to pass?
I understand that it is necessary that Dowdeswell Station should be kept open in connection with the working of through military and other trains.
Military Service
Medical Grading
asked the Minister of National Service whether, in the case of a man sent by an Appeal Tribunal to the medical assessors for re-examination, it is permissible for the National Service Medical Board by which he had been previously examined, or for the local National Service representative, to furnish any report on his case, or any information with regard to it, to the assessors previous to the re-examination?
I have been asked to answer this question. It is not the practice for such reports to be made. If a report were received, the medical assessors would give it their consideration; but it is for them to grade the man according to their own judgment. The medical history sheet of a man's examination by the National Service Medical Board and other relevant documents are, of course, received by the medical assessors before the man is examined by them.
Opium
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any official information showing that the Chinese Government have purchased the remainder of the opium in the hands of importers in Shanghai, and intend to resume the opium traffic in China and make it a Government monopoly for the purpose of raising revenue?
I may refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Derby on 20th June. His Majesty's Government have received official information to the effect that an agreement has been concluded between the Chinese Government and the Combine of Opium Importers for the purchase of the remaining stocks of Indian opium in bond at Shanghai and Canton, but they have no official information in regard to the manner in which the Chinese Government intend to dispose of this opium.