§ 28. Mr. Christopher Mayhewasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how far the services of Mr. J. D. Kingsley and Sir Arthur Rucker are being used by the United Nations in connection with the 846 repatriation of Korean and Chinese prisoners of war.
§ Mr. NuttingThe United Nations Korean Reconstruction Agency, of which Mr. Kingsley is the Agent General and Sir Arthur Rucker is the Deputy Agent General, is not concerned with prisoners of war but with plans for civilian relief in Korea. Questions relating to prisoners of war concern the United Nations Command. This distinction of functions is both useful and obvious. Her Majesty's Government would not wish to suggest any change in the present arrangements at this stage.
§ Mr. MayhewIs the Minister not aware that these two gentlemen safely repatriated scores of thousands of Polish and Yugoslav displaced persons after the war, many of whom were reluctant to go, and would not their great experience and advice be useful for resolving the deadlock over the prisoners?
§ Mr. NuttingNo doubt their advice, if they choose to tender it, is available to the United Nations Command, but, as I have already explained to the hon. Member, the repatriation of prisoners of war is a matter for the United Nations Command.
§ 29. Mr. Mayhewasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what further measures he will recommend to the United Nations for distinguishing between Communist and Korean prisoners who resist repatriation because they have real grounds for fearing reprisals and those who resist it for other reasons.
§ Mr. EdenAs I said in my statement in the House on 7th May, I am satisfied that the census recently taken by the United Nations Command was exhaustive and fair. Full publicity was given to the official Communist statement of 4th April offering an amnesty to all prisoners of war who elect to return. The United Nations Command have also expressed willingness to allow any suitable international body, or joint national Red Cross teams, accompanied by observers from both sides, to conduct another census after an armistice. I do not, therefore, at present propose to recommend any further measures to the United Nations Command for ascertaining the motives of the Communist prisoners who have refused repatriation.
§ Mr. MayhewWould not the Foreign Secretary agree that it would be a tragedy if we had a new and more widespread outbreak of fighting because we declined to repatriate prisoners, many of whom could safely return? Will the right hon. Gentleman, therefore, consider re-screening these prisoners much more searchingly, perhaps with a new commission, and do it now and not after an armistice?
§ Mr. EdenI do not think that the hon. Gentleman should say that a number of these prisoners who do not wish to return could safely return. I assure him that there was no desire on the part of the United Nations Command to increase the number of prisoners who did not want to return. On the contrary, our desire being to get an agreement and to get our people out, the whole onus of wish, if I may so express it, on our part was that there should be as few of these as possible. That is why full publicity was given to all the undertakings given by the North Korean Government. Perhaps I can add also, for the hon. Member's information, that this is not a unique experience of people wishing to get out of Communist territories or of not wishing to return to them. The experience of Hong Kong is well known in the House in that respect.
§ Mr. DonnellyHave any British observers actually seen of any these prisoners?
§ Mr. EdenNo, Sir. We have had reports from the beginning of the screening to our representatives in Tokyo, and also there have been regular reports since it began, not only to us, but to the Commonwealth representatives in Washington. Therefore, we know how the figure has grown and that it has surprised everybody by the extent of its growth; but there has not been a British observer on the spot.
§ Mr. Godfrey NicholsonWhat is proposed to be done with the prisoners who are not repatriated? Will they be retained as prisoners of war or liberated?
§ Mr. MayhewWill the Foreign Secretary give an assurance that no prospect has been held out to any prisoner of eventually getting an immigration visa to the United States?
§ Mr. EdenI am quite sure that that has not happened. What I should like 848 to remind the House is that if this is the difficulty, there is every kind of offer of inspection, including by the Communists themselves, when the armistice is signed. If this is the only difficulty, they can come and see the men there for themselves if they want to.
§ 30. Mr. Mayhewasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reports reach Chinese and North Korean prisoners of war about conditions in their home countries; and from what sources.
§ Mr. NuttingIt was agreed in December last that prisoners of war mail should be exchanged through the armistice negotiators. Chinese and North Korean prisoners can, therefore, obtain all the information about conditions in their home countries which their relatives and friends choose to send them in letters.
§ Mr. MayhewHave the United Nations been re-educating these prisoners against Communist doctrines, and is this still proceeding?
§ Mr. NuttingThat is another question.
§ Mr. MayhewNo, it is not.