§ 17. Mr. RONALD McNEILLasked the Under-Secretary for War if his attention has been directed to a pamphlet recently published in Berlin, purporting to be written by Bruno Schmidt-Reder, an 1452 officer in the German Army, giving an account of his release from Dorchester, where he had been interned as a prisoner of war, in which it is alleged that he was released by telegraphic order from the War Office obtained in a manner as to which he must preserve silence; that he was not required to give any undertaking not to bear arms again during the War: and that there was no British officer at the camp at Dorchester on the day of his release; whether photographs of the camp at Dorchester appear in the pamphlet; if he will say whether prisoners of war are allowed to possess and use photographic apparatus; whether Schmidt-Reder, when released, was searched; if he had in his possession any other photographs besides those of Dorchester camp; why was he permitted to take photographs of the camp to Germany; and will he explain the circumstances under which Schmidt-Reder obtained an order for release and was permitted to leave England?
§ Mr. TENNANTNothing is known of the pamphlet referred to, and I am, consequently, unable to make any statement regarding its contents. No prisoner of war is permitted to have a camera. The staff at Dorchester detention camp has been changed since Major Schmidt-Reder was released, and I am unable to say whether he was searched. Major Schmidt-Reder was released as being medically unfit for further service. He was also suffering from a disease of the ear which necessitated a very dangerous operation by a specialist. In the case of releases made under such circumstances neither Germany nor this country have demanded that parole should be given.
§ Mr. McNEILLDoes the right hon. Gentleman appreciate the danger, in view of the publication by this gentleman, of allowing prisoners who are released for reasons of that sort to go back to Germany?
§ Mr. TENNANTI do not quite follow the hon. Gentleman's argument. If the person were so incapacitated by physical ailment as to make it impossible for him to serve in the army, I do not quite see where the danger can arise.
§ Mr. McNEILLDoes not the right hon. Gentleman appreciate the fact that, although this man may be physically unable to serve in the army, he may publish matter in Germany which is very dangerous to this country?
§ Mr. TENNANTYes, if such an individual should be in possession of facts the publication of which would be injurious, of course he ought not to be allowed to return to Germany.
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANHas any prisoner in Germany been exchanged for this man?
§ Mr. TENNANTI should like to have notice of that question.
Mr. NcNEILLDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that a man who was in possession of photographs of the camp where prisoners are interned should not be allowed to go out of the country?
§ Mr. TENNANTPhotographs of the camp, I should have thought, would have been harmless. Of course, if he had other photographs, it might be dangerous to let him return, but I am not aware that he had any photographs.
§ Mr. BUTCHERIs it not desirable to search these prisoners before allowing them to go back to Germany?
§ Mr. TENNANTYes.