§ 6. Colonel YATEasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can give any further information as to the treatment and condition of the British prisoners of war from Kut-el-Amara, who are reported to have been removed to Angora and other places in Asia Minor?
§ Lord R. CECILWe have received no further official information as to the prisoners' treatment and condition since my reply of the 7th August to the hon. Member for Bethnal Green was given. As stated in that reply, the United States Embassy at Constantinople send clothing, comforts and money to the prisoners as soon as their arrival at an internment camp is known. I have no doubt that they will send us further information shortly. The main cause of our uneasiness as to the treatment of our prisoners of war by the Turks is their refusal to allow them to be visited by American officials. This appears to be due to the perversity or worse of the Turkish Government. Individual Turkish officers have by all accounts generally behaved with humanity and consideration to British prisoners. As I stated in my answer on Monday last, we have heard of the arrival of a considerable number of British prisoners at various places of internment, and several private messages received from them are, I understand, of a reassuring character.