asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether commercial treaties have been entered into with Italy, France, and Japan, or any of them, since the commencement of the War; if so, when is it proposed to publish such treaties, and will facilities be given at an early date for the House to discuss them; and, if no treaties have been concluded, will the Government arrange that the details of any proposed commercial treaties shall be discussed by the House before they are concluded?

No commercial treaties have been concluded with Italy, France, or Japan since the outbreak of War, and it is not proposed to do so now. The rest of the question therefore does not arise. There have, of course been constant negotiations during the War between His Majesty's Government and the three Governments mentioned on commercial matters arising out of the blockade and import and export restrictions.

asked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether he will consider the advisability of dispensing with passports in the case of persons of British nationality proceeding to the Channel Islands and no farther?

I understand from the Secretary of State for the Home Department that it is hoped that circumstances will permit of this dispensation in two or three months' time.

asked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware of the massacre of thousands of Jewish men, women, and children in Poland and Lithuania, perpetrated by the new Polish army and instigated by the Government of the new Polish State; and whether he will intervene so as to prevent any further massacres of these people?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of the 15th May to the hon. Member for Whitechapel, and to my reply of the 20th May to the hon. and gallant Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme. A detailed report has been called for from His Majesty's representative in Warsaw, but has not yet been received.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether venereal disease is spreading rapidly amongst the British troops in Germany now they have left the trenches and gone to billets in towns and villages there; that troops returning to England show a greater incidence of venereal disease than troops at home; that diseased German prostitutes abound in the occupied areas and convey infection to many of our troops there; and what effectual measures are being taken to protect British troops from such disease?

A Report has been called for on this matter, and I will communicate with my hon. Friend later.

asked the Secretary for War whether he is aware that, in spite of the representations of the Salisbury Rural District Council to the road transport officer of the Southern Command, the Royal Air Force are using a three-ton motor lorry for the purpose of conveying about four persons each day from Winterslow to Lopcombe Corner Aerodrome, and that in consequence considerable damage is being done to the reads in the district by this unnecessary heavy military traffic; and will he take steps to stop this waste of money?

The lorry in question belongs to the contractors working at Lopcombe Corner Aerodrome, and is used for the conveyance of stores and workmen to and from the station. There are generally about sixteen men, while the stores consist mainly of drain pipes, for which a conveyance of this kind is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether there are any and, if so, how many British soldiers now on the Continent or on other foreign service who, owing to their mental condition and in consequence of the War, have not been able to say who they are, and are consequently not identified; and, if so, whether he will consider the advisability of having their photographs taken and circulated?

I am informed that there are no such cases. The man referred to in the reply given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Anglesey on the 5th May has now been brought home. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply just mentioned. Experience has shown the suggestion to be impracticable.

asked the Secretary of State for War if the presumed death in action of Private Arnold D. Whittaker, No. 250927, l/6th Manchester Regiment, who was reported as wounded and missing on 25th March, 1918, cannot" now be officially con-firmed; whether he is aware that this man's father has repeatedly written to the War Office on the subject without receiving a reply; and what is the cause of the delay in this case and similar cases?

I am informed that Private Whittaker was reported wounded and missing on 25th March, 1918, but death has not been presumed officially owing to certain evidence having been submitted showing that he was killed. This evidence, which has been under examination, has now been verified. The death of the man is accordingly being accepted, and the next-of-kin will in due course receive the usual formal notice. The delay in notifying Private Whittaker's father is regretted. It was due, I understand, to the receipt of a large mass of information giving details as to the fate of many soldiers, and all of this required careful examination and consequent investigation.

asked whether the Government is now in a position to name the date when the victory marches of troops will take place in the large provincial centres on similar lines to those which have already taken place and others arranged for in London?

No, Sir, I am afraid it is not possible to name any date. I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to his question of the 15th May, to which it may be added that it is left entirely to the county authorities to propose the dates for these marches, and that the suggestion was made to general officers commanding-in-chief of Commands that if possible it should be arranged in coordinating the proposals that no two marches should be held on the same date, as otherwise there might be some difficulty in rendering any assistance required in the way of accommodation, tentage, etc.

asked the Secretary for War whether some thousands of motor lorries have been parked in the open at Mons for many months; whether such lorries have seriously deteriorated by reason of exposure to the weather as well as theft of certain of their parts; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent further deterioration of national property?

I understand that lorries have been parked in the open throughout the War, and I have no reason to think that serious deterioration results at Mons, any more than at other reception parks. I have no knowledge of the theft of parts to which my hon. Friend refers, but if he can give me further particulars I will have inquiry made.

asked the Secretary of State for War if the next-of-kin of soldiers buried in France and Flanders will be given the option of choosing a few words for the inscription on the monument marking their graves when new monuments are being set up?

Yes, Sir, the Imperial War Graves Commission have arranged for inscriptions chosen by the next-of-kin to be engraved on the headstones at a cost of about 3½d. a letter, whenever desired.

Will this be made public, as there are a lot of inquiries in the country?

It will be made public by an answer to a question in this House.

asked the Secretary for War if the Royal Army Ordnance Corps have recently entered into contracts for laundry work with charitable institution laundries in Ireland in which neither wages nor conditions are in accordance with Clauses 17, 18, and 19 of Contract Form No. 21; and, if so, if he will say whether he is prepared to give instructions that such contracts shall be can celled?

Sixteen contracts in all are held by charitable institutions in Ireland and in fourteen of these cases no commercial firms tendered for the work. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked what progress has been made with the release of hotels in the London area taken over for military purposs, including the Royal Air Force?

The position with regard to the various hotels is as follows:

Will the "garden city" at 10, Downing Street, started by my hon. Friend, also be vacated?

That is not under the War Office.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether a special medal will be awarded for service in expeditions to Russia since the signing of the Armistice with Ger many, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, and Turkey; and will the House of Commons have an opportunity of discussing the design on such medals?

At the moment there is no intention of awarding a special medal, but as operations in Russia are still continuing, it is impossible at present to estimate their scope, and therefore difficult to say whether a special medal in commemoration of such services will be required.

asked the Secretary of. State for War whether it is his intention to bring home the cadres of first-line Territorial units now serving in the Armies of Occupation in order to facilitate the reconstruction of the Territorial Force at home; if so, how many officers and other ranks these cadres will contain; and whether he will consider the advisability of bringing home all officers and other ranks who joined such units prior to the year 1916 and are pre pared to continue service in the Territorial. Force at home?

Comprehensive instructions regarding the preliminary steps to be taken for the reconstruction of the Territorial Force have been issued and these include the return to the United Kingdom of first-line Territorial units, as and when they can be be spared. It is not considered that the presence in the United Kingdom of first-line units is necessary to enable the preliminary steps of reconstruction to be proceeded with. As regard the second part of the question, the strength of cadres varies with the arm to which a unit belongs. In the case of an Infantry battalion a cadre amounts to four officers and forty-six other ranks, while a Royal Field Artillery battery totals from two officers and fifty-nine other ranks to three officers and 119 other ranks. The whole of the personnel referred to in the third part of my hon. and gallant Friend's question are demobilisable and are being released as rapidly as possible.

On a point of Order. There arc three questions standing in my name on the Paper. The first and third relate to the same subject, but the other question has been put between them. Would it not be possible that the questions on the same subject should be put together, and not separated in this way?

They are printed in the order in. which they were handed in at the Table.

I did not hand them in in that order.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will make more satisfactory arrangements for the settlement of claims for dilapidations of premises occupied as billets by soldiers for the past two or three years at the East Coast sea resorts; if the assessor for claims at Great Yarmouth is Captain Buckingham, of Lowestoft; if it will be possible for this assessor unaided to make the assessments under many months; and if they are not done immediately the whole letting season for the premises will be lost and great damage be suffered?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on the 22nd May to a similar question asked by the hon. and gallant Member for Epsom. With regard to the rest of the question, Great Yarmouth is included in the area dealt with by the War Department valuer at Lowestoft, but the valuer is not single-handed, as the question would seem to imply. The desirability of settling these cases without delay is fully realised, and all possible steps are being taken to effect this.

Will the Secretary of State for War personally look into this subject, because the delay, owing to the system of having this gentleman coming round now and again to assess compensation, has caused a great deal of dissatisfaction?

I will give my personal attention to it.

asked the Secretary tary of State for War if it is with his knowledge or authority that the assessors of damage done to premises in the East Coast towns which have been occupied by the military offer to the owners about one-third of the valuer's assessment of the damages, and if this is not accepted they tell the owners that they must present a Petition of Right against the Crown, and by this means try and force them to accept whatever is offered them?

I have no doubt there is often a difference of opinion between the War Department and property owners as to the amount that ought to be paid in settlement of dilapidation claims. I am informed that in the great majority of these cases the War Department valuers find that owners have not made an adequate allowance for reasonable wear and tear, or for the state of repair of the premises when the military authorities entered into occupation. The War Office has always deprecated any tendency on the part of valuers to adopt the attitude indicated in the latter part of my hon. Friend's question. If claims cannot be agreed locally, they are generally referred to higher authority at Command Headquarters, and, failing agreement there, to the War Office. Procedure by Petition of Right is regarded by the Department as a last resource, to be adopted only when all attempts to arrive at an amicable settlement have failed.

May I ask whether it is not a fact that a Petition of Right is the only remedy these people have for the recovery of damages?

Where it is impossible to arrive at any kind of settlement, I think that is so.

How are these compensations paid? By what method?

I must have notice of that.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state when the camp on Wimbledon Common will be closed and the common restored to the use of the public; if this camp includes the finest part in the centre of the common; and if he promised when the commons were taken that they should be the first places to be restored to their proper use when the War was over?

It is the intention to vacate the common land at the earliest possible moment when it is no longer needed for military purposes, but I regret that it is not possible at present to fix a dale by which it will be vacated. As regards the last part of the question, I do not recollect any specific promise having been given.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a number of men wounded in the War are detained in hospitals many miles from their homes, and that, owing to the expense in travelling, it is impossible for their friends to visit them; and if he will take the necessary steps to send them to hospitals near their homes where possible?

As far as possible, wounded soldiers are sent to hospitals in the vicinity of their homes as soon as they are fit to travel, but, owing to the daily closing of hospitals, facilities for this are not so great as formerly. If, however, my hon. Friend will give me details of the cases to which he refers, arrangements will be made to meet them as far as possible. Of course, particular reasons, such as the necessity for specialised treatment given only at certain centres, may make it necessary to keep a man in a distant hospital for a time.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the opinion of the Armies in France was asked regarding the principle on which the scheme adopted by the Imperial War Graves Commission is based, namely, that there shall be equal treatment of the graves of all those who have given their lives to the common cause?

Yes, Sir. Sir Frederick Kenyon, upon whose recommendation the scheme adopted by the Imperial War Graves Commission is based, before presenting his Report made exhaustive inquiries among the Armies in the field, including the representatives of the Home and Dominion Forces, the relatives of the fallen, chaplains of the forces, and heads of religious denominations, and he found that the opinion of the very great majority of those whom he consulted was in favour of the principle of equality of treatment for all war graves.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether relatives of those who have fallen are allowed liberty of choice in regard to the inscriptions which are placed on the gravestones in the cemeteries on the Western front; whether it can be arranged that drawings or photographs showing how the war cemeteries will look when completed according to the designs of the Graves Commission can be supplied to all Members of this House so that they can show them to relatives that approach them; and can he have such designs also sent to all local town halls in the country for local exhibition?

I have already answered the first part of this question in the reply I gave to Question No. 23 by the hon. and gallant Member for Hull Central. With regard to the second and third parts, I am asking the Imperial War Graves Commission to arrange for photographs of drawings illustrative of the Commission's scheme to be placed in the Tea Room of the House. A pamphlet, entitled "The Graves of the Fallen," describing the work of the Commission and containing illustrations showing what the appearance of the cemeteries will be when the work of construction is completed, has been published and can be purchased, price 6d., from His Majesty's Stationery Office, or from any bookstall. I will ask the Com- mission to consider whether the necessary expenditure should be authorised for supplying a copy of this pamphlet to all hon. Members, and also for sending copies to-all local town halls in the country. It is a very remarkable pamphlet, and the illustrations in it will deserve attention, and they will, I believe, tend to clarify opinion on this subject.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman why he requires to ask any permission. Is not every Member of the House entitled to any Government publication?

The Imperial War Graves Commission is a body with a separate organisation.

Set up by Parliament.

I could undoubtedly lay the document as a Parliamentary Paper. I do not anticipate there will be any difficulty.

Are they going to destroy the gravestones erected by comrades of the men who have fallen?

I think that my hon. and gallant Friend had better study the pamphlet, and he will then be in a better position to open inquiries on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether a definite scheme has been prepared by the Imperial War Graves Commission; and, if so, can the drawings of the proposed arrangement be put up for inspection in the Tea Room of the House of Commons?

I understand that drawings illustrative of the Imperial War Graves Commission's scheme have been made by an artist of repute and I will ask the Commission to arrange for photographs of these drawings to be placed in the Tea Room of the House for inspection by hon. Members.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can give the British-born wives of enemy aliens any information as to when their husbands are likely to be released from internment?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The Home Secretary regrets that he cannot make any general statement on this point, except that no person will be kept in internment longer than is necessary in the public interest.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the aliens have recently been removed from Alexandra Park to Frimley, where their British-born wives are quite unable to visit them, as the camp is four miles from the railway station at the end of a long railway journey? Can it be arranged that the husbands of English wives be liberated at the earliest possible moment?

asked the Prime Minister whether any provision has been made against the settlement in any part of the British Empire of the 4,000 German and Austrian prisoners who are now in Japan and will, presumably, be released after the conclusion of Peace?

The persons referred to will come under the Regulations as to the admission of aliens which vary in different parts of the Empire.

asked the Prime Minister why, with reference to the con-tool of the manufacture, sale, and distribution of intoxicating liquors, the War Cabinet are consulting certain unknown and unrepresentative individuals, instead of going for guidance to the House of Commons?

The War Cabinet has asked a Committee of Ministers, assisted by representatives from the Ministry of Food and the Central Control Board, to furnish them with a Report on this subject.

Are any working-class organisations being invited?

This is not a general inquiry. It is a Committee set up to advise the Government, which consists of Ministers and representatives of the Ministry of Food and the Control Board.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the names of the Committee?

I have already said it is quite unusual and it is very undesirable to give the names of a Cabinet Committee appointed to advise the Cabinet.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that no day will be accorded to Members of this House for the discussion of the Peace Terms, he is able to assure them that the Peace Terms will provide for the payment in full of the British Empire's war debt by enemy countries and that the dates of repayment will be left to the discretionary powers of the Inter national Commission?

I can add nothing to the replies which I have already given on this subject, and to Section VIII. the Official Summary of the Peace Terms published in the Press.

In view of the very unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I will call attention to this subject on the Motion for Adjournment for Whitsuntide.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say, in view of the Recess, whether he will be able to say something about this before the Adjournment?

No. I see no prospect, and I should be surprised if the hon. Member and the House generally do not realise that the present moment would be a particularly inopportune one for such a statement.

asked the Prime Minister whether, now that oil has been discovered at Hardstoft, in Derbyshire, it is the intention of the Government to take any and what steps to secure that the property in the oil shall be secured to the Crown?

The question raised by my hon. Friend is receiving the careful consideration of His Majesty's Government. Perhaps I may be allowed to add that the oil at Hardstoft has reached a height of about 2,400 ft., and is rising at about the rate of 340ft. a day.

When does the-Government expect to decide whether this petroleum belongs to the Crown or to the owners of the land?

Notice should be given of that question.

I have been asked to postpone this question, but I do not see why the right hon. Gentleman cannot answer it now.

The reason is that I have not the information.

The information is all in the question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when it is proposed to withdraw the existing restrictions on the gold trade?

It is essential to retain the prohibition on the export of gold coin and bullion, and also the prohibition on melting gold coin or using it otherwise than as currency. I am not aware of any other restrictions on the use or purchase of gold.

Are there not restrictions from the sale of gold, such as from the South African mines?

Perhaps the hon. Member will communicate with me on the question?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the case of articled clerks who joined the Navy and Army during the currency of their articles and have now decided to adopt the Navy or Army as a profession; and whether in such cases he will repay to such persons an amount of the Stamp Duty of £85 paid by them on their articles proportionate to the unexpired period?

I will consider the hon. Member's suggestion, and give him a definite answer after Whitsuntide if he will then repeat his question.

May I ask if that will include members of the Royal Air Force?

Obviously it would be necessary to include them. I do not want to prejudge the decision, but the narrowest class, if it is given at all, will be those in the fighting forces. We may have to consider those who joined the Civil Service as well as those who came into the public services of the State.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the shortage of clothing material for civilian wear and the prices now being charged, and in order to mitigate unemployment in the dyeing and clothing trades, he will place upon the market a substantial monthly quantity of the 6,500,000 yards of material suitable for dyeing for civilian wear which is now being held up by the War Office?

Such quantities of material as are surplus to Army requirements will, when the latter are settled, be reported to the Disposals Board, with whom rest the arrangements for the disposal of surplus stocks.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, considering that the gratuities given to officers of the rank of lieutenant-colonel, brigadier-general, and major-general for the South African War, which lasted two years, were more than the maximum gratuities that can be drawn by any officer of those ranks after five years' service overseas in the present War, he will represent the unfairness of the present scale of gratuities to His Majesty's Government and ask for reconsideration, of the matter and the issue of a revised Warrant.

The rates of gratuity were fixed by His Majesty's Government with full knowledge and after careful consideration of the rates paid after the South African War, and I regret that I am unable to entertain my hon. and gallant Friend's suggestion on the strength of this comparison.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the question on its merits, and does he not see how utterly inadequate the present gratuities are?

That is a matter of opinion.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that the work of renovating and repairing the barracks and married quarters in Aldershot is being curtailed in consequence of the insufficiency of the financial grant for this purpose; that men, most of them ex-soldiers, are being discharged, although there is still much work to be done; that with the discharges which have already taken place, and others expected, the staff of men employed on this work will be less than that employed before the War, although very little work has been done during the War, and a large amount of repairing work is necessary; and whether he will take steps to increase the money devoted to this purpose so that the necessary work may be taken in hand and the present discharges avoided?

The question of making further allotments to Aldershot will be given the most careful consideration.

Can the right hon. Gentleman explain why it is that the Govern- ment, who are appealing to employers to expedite work to find employment are not themselves doing so?

I do not think I could admit that.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fact that three small boys pleaded guilty at Grimsby to a charge of theft; whether it transpired that before being charged they had been taken into custody by the police and detained; whether he is aware that the magistrate held that such procedure was illegal and repugnant to justice and therefore released the boys; and what action he proposes to take?

I am informed that the boys were not taken into custody or detained. They were proceeded against by summons, but they had previously been taken to the police station in connection with the inquiry as to theft, and a young constable of three and a half months' service, in the absence of other officers, showed one of the boys the cells, and said, "That is where boys are put who do not tell the truth." His superior officers were unaware of this until the constable admitted it at the hearing, whereupon the responsible superintendent withdrew the charge, and the magistrates dismissed the case.

Were the magistrates right in carrying out the law in this specific case?

It is not for me to criticise the action of the learned magistrates.

If that is the law in this country, may I ask the hon. Gentleman to be good enough to send a note of the case to the Attorney-General and the Chief Secretary for Ireland, both of whom are breaking the law every day.

asked the Home Secretary how many of the German civil prisoners interned in this country during the War have now been repatriated and how many remain; how many have been liberated; whether any camps are completely vacated; and what provision, under the terms of the Peace Treaty, is made for the dispersal of the men who are still detained?

The number of German civil prisoners repatriated up to the 22nd May was 23,073 and repatriations are still in progress. The number interned on the 23rd May was 3,634. No question of liberating these men arises pending decisions upon their applications for exemption from repatriation which are now being considered by Mr. Justice Younger's Committee. The camps at Ripon, Spalding, Douglas, and Hackney Wick have been vacated, and the Alexandra Palace is now in course of evacuation. Under the provisions of the Peace Treaty any Germans still interned in the United Kingdom who desire to go back to Germany will be sent without delay, and the British Government will have the right to deal in its own discretion with any who do not desire to be repatriated.

May I ask if any prisoners of war interned in this country want to go back?

They have no option.

asked the Home Secretary if he will state how many pensioned police-constables there are in London and in other parts of the United Kingdom; if he will give the number of such pensioned constables employed in the Royal parks and State institutions; how many are employed by local authorities and public bodies; and whether their pay for such work is lower than the standard rate of wages for the district?

The number of pensioners from the Metropolitan police on 31st March was 9,450. I cannot give the exact number from the county and borough police forces of England and Wales, but it is between 14,000 and 15,000. I am sorry that the other particulars asked for are not available. The view taken, as I believe, by all Government Departments is that the fact that an applicant for employment of any kind is in receipt of a pension from public funds affords no ground for offering him pay below the standard rate of wages for such employment. I have no reason to think that any different view is taken by local authorities or other public bodies.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if ha can state when he will be in a position to introduce his proposals for the settlement of soldiers and sailors upon the land; and whether, in view of the unrest in Lewis and Harris, he will direct the Board of Agriculture to proceed at once with the schemes for small holdings already adopted by the Board for that area?

I hope to introduce the Bill referred to immediately after the Whitsuntide recess. As my hon. Friend is aware, the recent change in the ownership of the Island of Lewis has been followed by negotiations with the new proprietor which are still proceeding. While I fully recognise the urgency of the position, I am unwilling to abandon any chance of a settlement by consent. As my hon. Friend is aware, the Board has recently purchased land in Skye and elsewhere, some of which it is hoped may be available to mitigate congestion in the Island of Lewis.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if he will state how many demobilised soldiers and sailors have applied for land as small holdings: and how many and to what extent such claims have been satisfied?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the question addressed to me on the 21st ultimo by the hon. Member for Pontypool, a copy of which I am sending to him. The figures have not changed materially since that date.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if he will state what steps, if any, are being taken, in view of the sale of estates, many of which are within easy reach of industrial centres by motor transport, to buy such land for the purpose of parcelling it out in small holdings for demobilised soldiers and sailors?

County councils are considering the purchase of all land suitable for small holdings which comes into the market, and their officials are engaged continuously in inspecting and reporting on such land. The Board have arranged for particulars of all forthcoming sales of agricultural land to be sent to the county councils concerned as well as to the Board's District Commissioners. The land is then inspected and if found suitable the county council is authorised by the Board to bid for it.