§ The following Question stood upon the Order Paper in the name of Sir W. DAVISON:
§ 14. To ask the Secretary of State for War what is the present number of prisoners of war; whether he is satisfied that an inspectorate of four persons is adequate for the supervision of over 3,000,000 prisoners; and what is the result of recent representations by the Protecting Power with regard to a necessary increase in such inspectorate?
§ Sir W. DavisonThis Question has been postponed, but in connection with the lack of inspectorate, may I ask the Secretary of State—
§ Mr. SpeakerThe Question has been postponed.
§ Sir W. DavisonIn connection with the postponement, may I ask, because this is a very urgent matter, whether my right hon. and gallant Friend will look into the question of the removal—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder!
§ 32. Sir W. Davisonasked the Secretary of State for War, what machinery has been set up to secure the co-ordination of Government action on questions affecting United Kingdom, Dominion and Indian prisoners of war?
§ Captain MargessonI will, with my hon. Friend's permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a full statement showing in detail the machinery for coordinating the action of the Governments of the United Kingdom, the Dominions 1223 and India, and also of the various Departments of the United Kingdom Government in matters relating to prisoners of war.
§ Sir W. DavisonIs this committee of the same character as that appointed in the last war, when Lord Curzon was appointed as umpire in cases of differences of opinion between Government Departments?
§ Captain MargessonThe answer is long, and I shall be glad if my hon. Friend will study it.
§ Following is the statement:
In order effectively to co-ordinate the action of the Governments of the United Kingdom, the Dominions and India, who are separate signatories of the Prisoners of War Convention, an Imperial Prisoners of War Committee has been set up with the following terms of reference:To secure co-ordination of the action of His Majesty's Governments in regard to matters relating to prisoners of war both in our own and in enemy hands.
§ The Committee is composed as follows:
§ Chairman:
§ The Financial Secretary of the War Office, representing His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom.
§ Members:
§ The High Commissioner for Canada.
§ The High Commissioner for the Commonwealth of Australia.
§ The High Commissioner for New Zealand.
§ The High Commissioner for the Union of South Africa.
§ A representative of the Secretary of State for India.
§ In order to deal with day to day questions of administration, two sub-committees have been formed, likewise under the chairmanship of the Financial Secretary. Meetings of the sub-committees are attended by representatives of the Dominion High Commissioners and of the Secretary of State for India, together with representatives of all the United Kingdom Government Departments affected.
§ So far as United Kingdom prisoners of war are concerned, the War Office has been entrusted with the general responsibility for policy and administration and 1224 for watching over their interests and rights under the Geneva Convention. Other Government Departments are, however, concerned with certain particular aspects of this question. The Foreign Office, for example, acts as the channel of communication between His Majesty's Government and the Protecting Powers. The General Post Office is concerned with letters and parcels sent by postal service. The Admiralty, the Air Ministry and the Ministry of War Transport have a responsibility for watching over the special interests of individual prisoners of war belonging respectively to the Royal Navy, the Royal Air Force and the Merchant Navy. The Colonial Office is likewise interested in the welfare of prisoners of war belonging to the Colonies, whilst the India Office in consultation with the above-mentioned Departments on the one hand and with the Government of India on the other hand watches over the interests of prisoners of war belonging to Indian Forces.
§ 35. Captain McEwenasked the Secretary of State for War whether any information has been received from the Protecting Power with regard to recent movements of British officer prisoner of war camps in Germany?
§ Captain MargessonApart from the announcement that some British officers have recently been tranferred to a new camp known as Oflag VB, no information has been received from the Protecting Power with regard to movements of British officer prisoner of war camps in Germany.
Captain McEwanHas it not been common knowledge for some time past that there have been movements, and can my right hon. and gallant Friend say whether any movement has been made to a camp called VI B, which, I understand, is a French or Belgian Stallag?
§ Captain MargessonI am afraid that I have little information on the point at the moment. The Protecting Power has been requested to investigate and make a report.
§ Sir W. DavisonIs not my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that we are informed that some 2,000 officers have been evacuated and that they were obliged to leave their personal property and food parcels behind, and nobody 1225 knows to what addresses to send parcels? As it is a serious and urgent matter, will urgent representations be made to the Protecting Power to get the addresses of these officers?
Captain McEwanIs my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that the Protecting Power has the right to demand such information?
§ 20. Major-General Sir Alfred Knoxasked the Secretary of State for War whether negotiations are still in progress with the German Government with a view to the repatriation of seriously wounded prisoners of war, in accordance with Article 68 of the International Convention?
§ 22. Mr. Henderson Stewartasked the Secretary of State for War whether any fresh negotiations are to be undertaken by His Majesty's Government with reference to the exchange of prisoners of war?
§ Captain MargessonNo communications have passed between His Majesty's Government and the German Government since the breakdown of the negotiations on 6th October. The desire of His Majesty's Government to secure as quickly as possible the repatriation of sick and wounded prisoners of war remains unaltered and they are in consequence prepared at any time to resume, through the Protecting Powers, negotiations for repatriation upon the basis of the Prisoners of War Convention of 1929.
§ Sir A. KnoxIf the negotiations are resumed, will the War Office avoid making any public pronouncement on the subject until the whole thing is cut and dried, because of the enormous disappointment and worry which will be' caused?
Mr. StewartAre we to understand that the Protecting Powers are aware of the Governments' views on the matter and arc taking what steps they can to initiate negotiations?
§ Captain MargessonI could not go as far as that.
§ Mr. ThorneIs the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the German Government are putting the whole responsibility upon our shoulders?
§ Captain MargessonThe world will have read the statement I made in the House of Commons last week.
§ Sir W. DavisonHave the wounded German prisoners been supplied with any information as to the real reason?
§ Captain MargessonI believe that is so.
§ 29. Captain Cunningham-Reidasked the Secretary of State for War why he was prepared to hand over German prisoners before receiving any of our own; and why one of our hospital ships was not sent over empty so that subsequently the two hospital ships could have passed each other in mid-Channel?
§ Captain MargessonThe origin of the negotiations with the German Government on the repatriation scheme and their subsequent development were described at length in my statement of 7th October, to which I have nothing to add.
§ Captain Cunningham-ReidOn what ground was the right hon. and gallant Gentleman prepared to trust the Germans, in view of the fact that he intended to hand over Germans before any Englishmen were released?
§ Captain MargessonAs I say, the full story was told in the answer that I gave only a week ago. I do not think it will help to pursue the matter further by means of Question and Answer.