165:
252:. It clarified the scope of prohibited military activity (including making clear that the act only applied to "any foreign state at war with any foreign state at peace with Her Majesty" rather than all peacetime military service, to which the 1819 act extended); limited prison sentences for violations to two years; and made it a crime to prepare for or conduct military expeditions, and made it a crime to aid or abet any violators of the act, or to induce a person's enlistment by misrepresentations. The 1870 act thus applied to wars between states in which Britain was neutral; during the
34:
372:; ultimately, the prosecution was dropped. Rankin denounced the Foreign Enlistment Act as a violation of the rights he and other "Canadian gentlemen not only willing but eager to" fight for the Union as part of their "perfect right to enrol themselves in the cause of freedom – that of the North against the South."
225:"An Act to Prevent the Enlisting or Engagement of His Majesty’s Subjects to Serve in Foreign Service, and the Fitting out or Equipping, in his Majesty's Dominions, Vessels for Warlike Purposes Without His Majesty's Licence") was passed by in 1819. The law was passed to uphold British neutrality in the
549:
in the
Spanish Civil War. The Act was passed in April 1937 and formally applied to circumstances in Spain by an order-in-council in July 1937. An investigation was conducted, prosecutors were hired, and warrants were issued for the arrest of participants in the recruiting network, but ultimately
529:
introduced an act to clarify the imperial act ("An Act to
Prevent Enlistment in the Services of Any Foreign State in Certain Cases not provided for by the Foreign Enlistment Act, 1870") as it applied in Canada. The bill went through a first and second reading but was dropped by Prime Minister
182:
An Act to
Prevent the Enlisting or Engagement of His Majesty’s Subjects to Serve in Foreign Service, and the Fitting out or Equipping, in his Majesty's Dominions, Vessels for Warlike Purposes Without His Majesty's
732:, "The Institutes of the Law of Nations: A Treatise of the Jural Relations of Separate Political Communities", c. XII. Edinburgh: William Blackwood and Sons, 1883, 1884; reprinted 2005 by the Lawbook Exchange
233:
proposed repeal, saying "There never was an Act of the
Legislature so little under the general opinions of the country." That repeal effort failed, but the law remained ineffective.
365:
368:. Rankin was prosecuted in October 1861; the court rejected Rankin's arguments on jurisdiction, dropped the charge of "recruiting" and referred the charge of enlistment to the
1088:
1073:
357:
525:
passed a clarifying statute in 1865, but it only applied to the
Foreign Enlistment Act 1819 and lacked any force after the 1870 statute was enacted. In 1875, MP
583:
229:
and made it a crime punishable by fines and imprisonment for
British subjects to serve in foreign militaries. The 1819 Act was rarely enforced. In 1833 MP
854:
51:
An Act to regulate the conduct of Her
Majesty's Subjects during the existence of hostilities between foreign states with which Her Majesty is at peace.
352:
all challenges raised by the accused, concluding that the imperial act applied in
British North America. The highest-profile case was that of Colonel
333:
541:
enacted the
Canadian Foreign Enlistment Act of 1937 due to concerns that it would not allow for the Canadian government to successfully convict the
479:
464:
188:
56:
299:
226:
1093:
1032:
430:
422:
369:
253:
1083:
240:, Parliament repealed the 1819 Act and passed the 1870 Act, a redrafting of the prior legislation. The 1870 act, enacted during the
531:
453:
169:
127:
38:
905:
449:
included "possible amendment of the
Foreign Enlistment Act", which the August 1976 "Diplock Report" described as "antiquated".
463:
said she would "absolutely" support Britons volunteering to fight for Ukraine. This suggestion caused mixed reactions. Former
434:
213:
prohibition on enlistment in foreign militaries, and mercenary services predated the development of professional armies. The
510:
345:
1098:
1078:
499:
812:
554:
337:
542:
534:, who cited a lack of necessity for the law and expressed concerns that it might conflict with the imperial act.
286:(to which the act applied), except in rare situations in which the foreign military activity threatened British
729:
483:
353:
348:. There were only a handful of prosecutions. In the small number of prosecutions, the Canadian courts rejected
271:
230:
717:
503:
471:
267:
257:
1042:
675:
406:
government there. Problems with evidence prevented the British government from convicting enlistees to the
282:
Authorities in Britain generally did not enforce the act, and it was often ignored, both in Britain and in
577:
546:
526:
426:
399:
123:
407:
387:
283:
177:
46:
754:
Mackenzie, S. P. (1 January 1999). "The Foreign Enlistment Act and the Spanish Civil War, 1936-1939".
486:, called the Foreign Enlistment Act an "antiquated piece of legislation" that should not be enforced.
101:
380:
986:
813:"Leashing the Corporate Dogs of War: The Legal Implications of the Modern Private Military Company"
538:
442:
237:
1057:
969:
522:
446:
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341:
261:
249:
105:
607:
1004:
961:
620:
457:
415:
376:
307:
84:
953:
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781:
763:
676:
Mercenaries and Adventurers: Canada and the Foreign Enlistment Act in the Nineteenth Century
474:, said that Britons who fought in Ukraine would be violating the 1870 Act. By contrast, Sir
411:
245:
119:
61:
941:
361:
882:
495:
467:
264:(1904–05), British officials blocked naval vessels from sailing to belligerents.
241:
1067:
973:
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veteran was prosecuted for violation of the Canadian Foreign Enlistment Act of 1937.
323:
295:
291:
287:
836:
391:
349:
327:
319:
303:
138:
74:
537:
Foreign enlistment was not a political issue again in Canada until the 1930s. The
720:, "A History of the Criminal Law of England", p262, 1883, republished 2014 by CUP
603:
562:
558:
395:
1053:
336:, yet more than 50,000 British North Americans (many Canadians) fought for the
222:
210:
1056:
as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from
965:
104:
as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from
475:
460:
375:
Parliament formally suspended the law on one occasion – in 1835, during the
218:
193:
131:
906:"Statute Law Revision Bill [no. 27 of 1981] [As initiated]"
767:
957:
832:
782:"Committee of Privy Counsellors on the Recruitment of Mercenaries: Report"
314:
were also not prosecuted. Nor was any action taken against the Irish and
311:
1047:
855:"Liz Truss criticised for backing Britons who wish to fight in Ukraine"
379:, for two years, permitting British subjects to join the army of Queen
561:. Although Canada was officially neutral in the conflict, no Canadian
568:
The Canadian Foreign Enlistment Act of 1937 remains a valid statute.
386:
The last successful prosecution occurred in 1896 in the trial of Sir
315:
509:
In the Republic of Ireland it was repealed as "inoperative" by the
1033:"The Foreign Enlistment Act and the Spanish Civil War, 1936–1939"
1043:
Record of parliamentary debates on Foreign Enlistment, 1819-2005
403:
278:
Prosecutions and non-prosecutions under the 1819 and 1870 acts
1005:"Consolidated federal laws of canada, Foreign Enlistment Act"
360:
who in the summer of 1861 personally offered his services to
899:
Foreign Enlistment Act 1870 Rep. 11/1983, s.1, sch., pt. 4
706:
From Byron to Bin Laden: A History of Foreign War Volunteers
425:
advertised for recruits in the British press, prompting the
987:
The Canadian Way: The Case of Canadian Vietnam War Veterans
942:"Canada's Foreign Enlistment Act and the Spanish Civil War"
318:
Catholics (British subjects) who fought on behalf of the
695:(Cambridge University Press, 1936), 15th edition, p. 378
445:) to "Inquire into the Recruitment of Mercenaries". Its
290:
in armed conflicts. More than 5,000 Britons served with
274:
publishes the law of 1870 as it was originally enacted.
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it was gradually repealed or replaced by independent
494:
The Westminster Act initially applied throughout the
200:
187:
176:
100:
93:
83:
73:
68:
55:
45:
811:
1003:Branch, Legislative Services (31 December 2002).
410:or those thousands who joined the fight against
270:presents late 19th century establishment views.
545:'s ongoing effort to recruit Canadians for the
550:there were no prosecutions under the statute.
358:Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada
584:British ambulances in the Franco-Prussian War
364:, accepted a Union commission and raised the
334:Britain was neutral in the American Civil War
8:
152:
21:
670:
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244:era, implemented many recommendations of a
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302:. The 300 Britons who participated in the
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20:
708:(Harvard University Press: 2018), p. 129.
883:"British Public Statutes Affected: 1870"
326:) in the late 1860s, during the Italian
1054:Text of the Foreign Enlistment Act 1870
595:
555:Canadians enlisted in the U.S. military
102:Text of the Foreign Enlistment Act 1870
1089:Military history of the United Kingdom
1074:United Kingdom Acts of Parliament 1870
465:Attorney General for England and Wales
402:(Transvaal) in rebellion against the
300:Spanish American wars of independence
236:On 9 August 1870, in response to the
227:Spanish American wars of independence
7:
853:Sparrow, Andrew (27 February 2022).
821:Journal of Conflict and Security Law
390:, who was convicted for leading the
344:, and a much smaller number for the
940:Wentzell, Tyler (1 November 2017).
423:National Liberation Front of Angola
14:
1037:Twentieth Century British History
756:Twentieth Century British History
619:The Foreign Enlistment Act 1870,
602:The citation of this act by this
454:2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
170:Parliament of the United Kingdom
163:
134:activities of British citizens.
128:Parliament of the United Kingdom
39:Parliament of the United Kingdom
32:
993:, Vol. 15, No. 3, Summer 2015.
925:Foreign Enlistment Act. 1870.
744:(1896) 65 LJMC 218; 60 JP 662.
1:
511:Statute Law Revision Act 1983
470:, a former member of Truss's
89:United Kingdom: 9 August 1870
915:. 26 August 1981. p. 23
1094:United Kingdom military law
810:Liu, H. Y. (1 March 2010).
500:Statute of Westminster 1931
356:, a militia officer of the
298:and other units during the
215:Foreign Enlistment Act 1819
153:Foreign Enlistment Act 1819
116:Foreign Enlistment Act 1870
95:Status: Current legislation
22:Foreign Enlistment Act 1870
1115:
490:Outside the United Kingdom
149:United Kingdom legislation
18:United Kingdom legislation
991:Canadian Military Journal
680:Canadian Military History
543:Communist Party of Canada
162:
157:
31:
26:
1084:1870 in military history
808:6569, para 92; cited in
693:Outlines of Criminal Law
484:Justice Select Committee
433:to appoint a committee (
1009:laws-lois.justice.gc.ca
786:nationalarchives.gov.uk
718:James Fitzjames Stephen
130:that seeks to regulate
682:vol. 23, no. 2 (2014).
578:Neutrality Act of 1794
547:International Brigades
452:Interviewed after the
400:South African Republic
370:Court of Queen's Bench
366:First Michigan Lancers
304:1832 military campaign
958:10.1353/llt.2017.0048
408:French Foreign Legion
388:Leander Starr Jameson
284:British North America
260:(1894–95), and
1039:, 1999, 10(1):52-66.
768:10.1093/tcbh/10.1.52
381:Isabella II of Spain
1099:Franco-Prussian War
1079:1870 in British law
946:Labour / Le Travail
833:10.1093/jcsl/krp025
539:Canadian Parliament
532:Alexander Mackenzie
527:TĂ©lesphore Fournier
478:, the chair of the
443:Geoffrey De Freitas
308:Dom Pedro of Brazil
248:convened after the
238:Franco-Prussian War
154:
23:
1058:legislation.gov.uk
889:. 16 February 2022
887:Irish Statute Book
523:Province of Canada
472:Conservative Party
447:terms of reference
439:Derek Walker-Smith
394:, a raid from the
262:Russo-Japanese War
250:American Civil War
141:on 9 August 1870.
106:legislation.gov.uk
606:is authorised by
458:Foreign Secretary
416:Spanish Civil War
377:First Carlist War
258:Sino-Japanese War
256:(1877–78),
254:Russo-Turkish War
207:
206:
158:Act of Parliament
120:33 & 34 Vict.
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62:33 & 34 Vict.
27:Act of Parliament
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827:(1): 150 n. 48.
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412:Francisco Franco
246:royal commission
202:Status: Repealed
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1012:. Retrieved
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949:
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935:
924:
917:. Retrieved
912:
898:
891:. Retrieved
886:
874:
862:. Retrieved
859:The Guardian
858:
837:academia.edu
835:– via
824:
820:
801:
789:. Retrieved
785:
776:
762:(1): 52–66.
759:
755:
749:
741:
737:
725:
713:
705:
700:
692:
687:
679:
615:
610:of this act.
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504:Commonwealth
498:. After the
493:
451:
435:Lord Diplock
421:In 1975 the
420:
392:Jameson Raid
385:
374:
350:jurisdiction
332:
328:Risorgimento
320:Papal States
281:
266:
235:
214:
208:
139:royal assent
137:It received
136:
115:
113:
85:Commencement
75:Royal assent
15:
952:: 213–246.
919:27 February
893:27 February
864:27 February
791:27 February
742:R v Jameson
604:short title
563:Vietnam War
559:Vietnam Era
557:during the
429:to get the
396:Cape Colony
346:Confederacy
340:during the
231:John Murray
1068:Categories
913:Oireachtas
691:Kenny, C.
590:References
288:neutrality
223:long title
221:. c. 69) (
211:common law
178:Long title
145:Background
47:Long title
974:149252443
966:1911-4842
621:section 3
608:section 1
506:members.
476:Bob Neill
461:Liz Truss
398:into the
219:59 Geo. 3
194:59 Geo. 3
132:mercenary
1014:21 April
572:See also
312:Portugal
310:against
189:Citation
183:Licence.
57:Citation
1048:Hansard
414:in the
324:Zouaves
294:in the
272:Lorimer
268:Stephen
196:. c. 69
126:of the
972:
964:
517:Canada
316:Quebec
970:S2CID
909:(PDF)
817:(PDF)
338:Union
69:Dates
64:c. 90
1016:2019
962:ISSN
921:2022
895:2022
866:2022
806:Cmnd
793:2022
580:(US)
521:The
441:and
404:Boer
322:(as
114:The
1045:in
954:doi
829:doi
764:doi
342:war
306:of
124:act
1070::
1035:,
1007:.
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968:.
960:.
950:80
948:.
944:.
923:.
911:.
897:.
885:.
857:.
845:^
825:15
823:.
819:.
784:.
760:10
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678:,
627:^
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482:'
456:,
437:,
418:.
383:.
330:.
1060:.
1018:.
976:.
956::
868:.
839:.
831::
795:.
770:.
766::
217:(
118:(
108:.
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