I also inclose for your information in this relation a copy of a note (No. 953, of Aug. 29, 1918) from the British Embassy, expressing the views of the British Government regarding the matter.

Very sincerely, yours,

ROBERT LANSING.

No. 953.

BRITISH EMBASSY, Washington, August 29, 1918.

SIR: I am requested by my Government to express the anxiety which they feel in connection with the question of the readmission to the United States of British subjects who have elected to serve in the British or Canadian Army under the recruiting convention of June 3, 1918.

I have already informed my Government that the opinion of the State Department was in favor of the passage by Congress of the more generous resolution on this point, House Joint Resolution 212, but that this resolution had been rejected, and House Joint Resolution 255 passed instead.

As you will appreciate, my Government is unwilling to accept this as a final solution of this question and ventures to express the opinion that the situation thus created is one which will involve men who have given their services on behalf of our common cause in serious and unmerited hardship. They also request me to say that resolution 212 would appear to be more in consonance with the spirit of the military service recruiting convention, which recognized the principle of alternative service in the army of either country.

In these circumstances, I have the honor to express the hope that this question is not regarded by the State Department as having reached its final solution, but that opportunity in the future will be taken to reach a more equitable and satisfactory settlement. I have the honor to be, with the highest consideration, sir,

Your most obedient humble servant,

Hon. ROBERT LANSING,

Secretary of State of the United States.

COLVILLE BARCLAY.

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EXTENSION OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF WAR-RISK INSURANCE ACT.

SEPTEMBER 18, 1918.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed.

Mr. PADGETT, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, submitted the

following

REPORT.

[To accompany H. R. 12934.]

The Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 12934) to extend certain provisions of the war-risk insurance act of September 2, 1914, as amended, to cadets at the United States Military Academy and midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy, having had the same under consideration, report it back to the House with the recommendation that the bill do pass.

The bill provides for amending the act of October 6, 1917, so as to permit cadets at the Military Academy and midshipmen at the Naval Academy to receive the benefits of "compensation for death or disability" and "insurance." The committee feels that while these cadets and midshipmen have not yet received a commission, they are a part of the Army and Navy, respectively, and as such are entitled to receive the benefits of any laws of such services. The War Department and the Navy Department have authority to call and assign these men to duty whenever the necessity requires, and they may be called upon to perform dangerous and hazardous duty, as was the case of seven midshipmen serving on the U. S. S. San Diego which was sunk by mine off the coast of New York several weeks since. The committee feels that this is a meritorious case and recommends the passage of the bill.

The following letter from the Secretary of the Navy to the Speaker of the House of Representatives gives the recommendations of the Navy Department:

NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, September 11, 1918.

MY DEAR MR. SPEAKER: I have the honor to inclose herewith a proposed draft of a bill to include both midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy and cadets at the United States Military Academy within certain provisions of the war-risk insurance act of September 2, 1914, as amended by the act of October 6, 1917, and subsequent enactments.

The provisions of the act referred to which it is considered the midshipmen and cadets should receive the benefits of are Articles III and IV, "Compensation for death or disability" and "Insurance," respectively, of the amendment approved October 6, 1917 (40 Stat., 398). Under a ruling of the Treasury Department, cadets at West Point and midshipmen at Annapolis who are not assigned to active service are not within the terms of these provisions. Should these provisions be made applicable to the men in question, they would only receive compensation in case of injury suffered or disease contracted in the line of duty, and it is submitted that it is only equitable and just that they, the same as all others in the Navy and military service of the United States, should be entitled to this compensation. It is also believed that they should have the benefits of Government insurance for the same

reason.

Many enlisted men of both the Army and Navy are appointed to the Military and Naval Academies by authority of existing law, and invariably these men have taken insurance while in an enlisted status. Under the terms of the war-risk insurance act, these men are entitled to continue their insurance in force, with the result that midshipmen and cadets who have been appointed from the ranks are carrying insurance where those who are appointed from civil life are not eligible to take out insurance. The attached proposed draft of a bill has the approval of both the War and Navy Departments, and it is respectfully urged that same be enacted at an early date.

Sincerely, yours,

The SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

JOSEPHUS DANIELS.
Secretary of the Navy.

PURCHASE OF UNIFORMS BY OFFICERS OF THE NAVY.

SEPTEMBER 18, 1918.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed.

Mr. PADGETT, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, submitted the following

REPORT.

[To accompany H. R. 12945.]

The Committee on Naval Affairs, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 12945) providing for the purchase of uniforms, accouterments, and equipment by officers of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, and midshipmen at the Naval Academy from the Government at cost, having had the same under consideration, report the same back to the House with the recommendation that the bill do pass.

The bill provides that officers of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, while operating with the Navy, and midshipmen at the Naval Academy shall, upon the request of said officers or midshipmen, be furnished with uniforms, accouterments, and equipment by the Government at cost, subject to such restrictions and regulations as the Secretary of the Navy may prescribe. This bill gives the same privilege to officers of the naval service as was given to officers of the Army and cadets at the Military Academy in the act approved August 31, 1918, and is thought by the committee to be just and equitable in putting officers of the two services on the same footing. The bill is recommended by the Navy Department.

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