§ 2. Sir H. CRAIKasked whether the possibility of an exchange of prisoners of war has been under consideration, or 123 whether such proposal might be made through the intermediary agency of a Neutral Powers?
§ Mr. JAMES HOPE (Treasurer of the Household)I am not quite clear as to what my hon. Friend refers to. Arrangements for the exchange of civilian prisoners of war over forty-five years of age have we hope been almost concluded with the German Government and further negotiations as to the exchange of -certain classes of invalid civilians under forty-five years of age are proceeding. All such negotiations are conducted through the good offices of the American Embassies.
§ Sir H. CRAIKMy question referred to prisoners of war and not to civilians. I want to know whether any suggestion has been made that there might be an exchange of prisoners of war?
§ Mr. HOPESuch questions are continually being discussed, but I fear nothing -definite has been concluded, and we have no reason to suppose that the German Government is willing to make any such arrangement.
§ Sir H. CRAIKHas any attempt been made to ascertain through a Neutral Power? The hon. Member has completely misunderstood my question. I had better put it down again.
§ 3. Mr. COWANasked the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether the arrangement made through the American Ambassador in Berlin for the exchange of British-civilian prisoners interned in Germany for German civilians interned in the British Empire is limited to the exchange of prisoners over forty-five years of age; and whether, in that case, he will request the American Ambassador in Berlin to endeavour to arrange for a similar exchange of such civilian prisoners under forty-five years of age as are unfit for military service?
§ Mr. HOPEThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part, we concluded an agreement with Germany early in 1915 for the exchange of invalid civilians. A proposal has recently been made to the German Government, which we hope will result in a further number of incapacitated civilians being repatriated.
§ Mr. COWANCan anything be done in the case of those civilian interned prisoners in Germany who are slowly being done to death in so-called German sanatoria—men under forty-five years of age?
§ Mr. MALCOLMAre we to understand that an agreement has been reached with Germany about the repatriation of civilian prisoners over forty-five or has not been reached?
§ Mr. HOPEThe German Government has made one fresh point which I trust may be overcome. If that is overcome and no other difficulty intervenes, I trust it will take effect very shortly.
§ 86. Mr. MALCOLMasked the Treasurer of the Household if he will now state in detail or cause to be circulated the number of British prisoners of war in Germany who have been sentenced to imprisonment of three years and upwards, stating the term of imprisonment and whether with or without solitary confinement, penal servitude, or hard labour; how many German prisoners in Great Britain have received similar sentences since the outbreak of war; and what are the reasons why His Majesty's Government decline to negotiate for a postponement of the execution of these sentences until the conclusion of hostilities?
§ Mr. HOPEThe number of British prisoners of war in Germany sentenced to imprisonment for terms of three years and upwards is, so far as is known, thirty-four. Of these, one has received a sentence of 13 years', twenty-three of 12 years', three of 10 years', two of 8 years', one of 3 years' and 3 months', and four of 3 years' duration, respectively. We are without information as to whether any of the sentences involved solitary confinement or as to the amount of hard labour involved.
The number of German prisoners of war in Great Britain who are serving sentences of three years and upwards is seven (including two tried and sentenced outside Great Britain but serving their sentences within Great Britain). The ques- 125 tion of the postponement of the execution of these sentences until the conclusion of hostilities has been under consideration, but the essential differences in the Military Codes of this and other countries render an agreement on the lines settled between France and Germany practically impossible.
§ Sir J. D. REESIs there any probability whatever that any such sentence, if suspended till the end of the War, will be carried out? Is it the least likely?
§ Sir J. D. REESIs it not extremely unlikely?
§ 87. Viscount WOLMERasked the Treasurer of the Household whether he can give the number of unemployed prisoners of war in this country, military and civil, including prisoners in the Isle of Man?
§ Mr. HOPEIt is considered undesirable by the military authorities to give further information as to the employment of prisoners of war.
§ 83. Viscount WOLMERasked whether the War Office is prepared to allow convalescent soldiers to act as guards for prisoners of war employed in agricultural work?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Forster)It is not considered desirable that convalescent soldiers should guard prisoners of war. All the endeavours of the War Office are directed to making convalescent soldiers fit again for the ranks, and this end will not be furthered by putting them to guard prisoners of war.