HC Deb 15 March 1916 vol 80 cc2058-9
13. Sir CHARLES HENRY

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is in possession of any information as regards the course adopted by the German authorities in refusing to give the names of prisoners who may be in hospitals in Belgium or in that part of France occupied by the Germans; and whether he has approached the Ambassador to the United States in order to endeavour to obtain this information from German official sources?

Lord R. CECIL

I have received no information in the sense of the first part of the hon. Member's question; the second part does not therefore arise.

16. Mr. MALCOLM

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the basis of exchange of civilian prisoners between Great Britain and Germany was that they were incapable of military service; and whether that remains the basis of exchange?

Lord R. CECIL

The reply to both parts of my hon. Friend's question is in the affirmative, but it is hoped that it may be possible to secure some modification of the present rules with respect to civilian prisoners over forty-five.

Mr. MALCOLM

If that is the case, can the right hon. Gentleman explain how it is that the Under-Secretary of State for War the other day told me that he could not give a guarantee that these exchanged civilian prisoners would not be used for foreign and home service?

Lord R. CECIL

I do not at all know what that refers to, but it cannot refer to those who are incapable of military service?

Mr. KING

Does the answer imply that forty-five years of age is now taken by the British Government as the limit of useful military service?

Lord R. CECIL

No, Sir, it does not imply anything of the kind. It implies that we desire, so far as we can, to obtain the repatriation of those over forty-five years of age who are not likely to be of any military value.

Mr. MALCOLM

Does it mean that those who are exchanged are exchanged on the ground that they are not fit for military service and therefore will not be used for military service?

Lord R. CECIL

I do not think that question arises, but I cannot imagine that they would be used for military service.

17. Mr. MALCOLM

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will communicate to the House the promised explanation by the camp commandant at Groningen of his imprisonment of sixteen Royal Naval Reserve men; and whether His Majesty's Government will invite the Dutch Government in future to inform the British Minister at The Hague immediately such grave sentences are passed upon British subjects interned in Holland?

Lord R. CECIL

The report on this subject has not yet been received. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative.

Back to