§ 1. Mr. MALCOLMasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the hospital ship offered by His Majesty's Government to facilitate the exchange of disabled military prisoners will also be used to transport German and bring back British civilian prisoners from internment?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Lord Robert Cecil)The suggestion made by my hon. Friend has been carefully considered, but there are practical difficulties in the way of its adoption, which I shall be happy to explain to him. The repatriation of British and German invalid civilians will not be prejudiced by the decision not to use the hospital ship in question for this purpose.
§ 2. Mr. MALCOLMasked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs how soon he expects the Swiss Medical Commission to arrive in this country to take evidence as to German prisoners qualified by illness to be sent to Switzerland; and whether he can give the House any details as to the destinations or probable departure of the first batch of British prisoners for Switzerland?
§ Lord R. CECILI regret that I do not know the exact date on which the Swiss Medical Commission will arrive in this country, but the Swiss Government are fully alive to the urgency of the matter; we understand that the first batch of British prisoners will be sent to Chateau d'Oex and its neighbourhood. It is hoped that the first batches of prisoners may leave this country and Germany by the end of this month.
§ Sir J. D. REESCan the right hon. Gentleman say what arrangements have been made for the supervision of the German prisoners sent over to Switzerland? Will they be interned in like manner as they are here?
§ Lord R. CECILI should like notice of that question.