29
Tel. No.-Whitehall 9400.
Any further communication on this subject should be addressed to :-
The Under-Secretary of State,
The War Office,
London, S.W.1,
and the following number quoted.
083/5959 (M.0.1.).
1/13910/10/
33
2/92645/352
61
dekke
Sir,
हैं
NATIONAL
FOR
DISABLED
CHEME
MEN
THE WAR OFFICE,
CEIVED
1086
C. O. REGY
LONDON
14th January, 1936.
I am commanded by the Army Council to state for the information of Mr. Secretary Thomas that the Brigadier commanding the British Troops in China has received applications from about thirty young German residents for enlistment in the Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps.
2.
The Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps is constituted under the Volunteer Ordinance No. 10 of 1933. Its provisions empower the Governor "to accept the services of any person desiring to be enrolled". Hitherto the policy has been to allow aliens to enlist in the ranks providing they are Europeans, suitable, and not over numerous. The grant of commissions to aliens, however, is barred by the Act of Settlement and Article 4 of the Volunteer Ordinance expressly limits the grant to British subjects. (Colonial Office letter 92645/32 of 1st July, 1932, and War Office letter 083/5857 (M.0.1.) of 12th October, 1932, refer).
3.
Article 179 of the Treaty of Versailles prohibits the enrolment of Germans as instructors in Allied Military forces. The Council feel, however, that this Article is hardly applicable in the present circumstances and that the enlistment of these Germans would prove of benefit in assisting relations between Germany and Great Britain. Before approving of the enlistment, however, the Council would be glad to know whether Mr. Secretary Thomas can see any objection.
4.
A similar letter has been addressed to the Foreign Office.
The Under Secretary of State,
Colonial Office,
Whitehall,
S.. 1.
I am,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
At Widdow?
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