HL Deb 26 October 1954 vol 189 cc601-2

2.35 p.m.

THE EARL OF CORK AND ORRERY

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government—

  1. (1) whether it is a fact, as reported in the Press, that the Secretary of Defence of the United States has set up a Committee to study the desirability of reviewing existing laws and Governmental and international agreements affecting prisoners of war, in particular those captured by nations in the Soviet orbit, as "experience has shown certain changes appear desirable":
  2. (2) whether, if this is a fact, Her Majesty's Government are taking any part or interest in the matter.]

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (THE MARQUESS OF READING)

My Lords, it is the fact that each of the American armed Services has a committee working on these problems and the results are gradually being coordinated. Relevant aspects are being referred to the State Department and other United States Government agencies concerned. The process is far from complete and no decision has yet been reached about what changes may seem desirable. Her Majesty's Government are also studying the evidence which has been collected from returned prisoners of war who were captured in Korea. Consultation with the American authorities will probably be necessary at a later date. I should make it clear, however, that Her Majesty's Government are not engaged in studying the desirability of reviewing the 1949 Prisoners of War Convention. The United Kingdom is a signatory to that Convention, but ratification awaits the enactment of legislation necessary to put into effect certain of its provisions. I am not at present in a position to say when such legislation might be introduced.

THE EARL OF CORK AND ORRERY

My Lords, I thank the noble Marquess for his Answer to my Question, but arising out of it I would ask what has become of the draft of Chapter XIV which we were told two and a half years ago was being considered by the Foreign Office, all Service Departments, and the Dominions, and was going on to the United States of America. Has this review which the Americans are holding got nothing to do with that? Two and a half years is a long time and we have been told that any review of this Chapter would not appear for another year from last July, which makes three and a half years. A great number of British soldiers, sailors and airmen, and a considerable number of Dominion forces of the same rank and rating, will have been tortured, persecuted and starved, many of them to death, in the interval of time. It is high time some more drastic and active step was taken on these lines.

THE MARQUESS OF READING

To Chapter XIV of what publication is the noble and gallant Earl referring?

THE EARL OF CORK AND ORRERY

The Manual of Military Law, which we have been talking about.

THE MARQUESS OF READING

I am not sure that that is what we have been talking about, because the noble and gallant Earl's Question is phrased in such very wide terms that it might cover a good deal more than the exact Chapter he has mentioned. Indeed, the reply I have given him covers a wider area. The noble and gallant Earl ought to be pleased that it does—and I hope he is.

THE EARL OF CORK AND ORRERY

I had hoped the noble Marquess would be more to the point and would not evade my Question.

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