§ 1. General Sir IVOR HERBERTasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign 698 Affairs whether he can state the circumstances under which Prince Salm-Salm, an active officer in the German Army, was released when a prisoner in our hands; whether any and what number of British officers were asked for in exchange for so important a prisoner; and whether on his release any undertaking was given by him or by the German Government that he would not bear arms during the War against Great Britain or her Allies?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Forster)After full consideration of all the circumstances an agreement was reached with the German Government for the exchange of Colonel W. E. Gordon, V.C., interned in Germany, for Prince Salm-Salm, who was interned in Gibraltar. No undertaking not to bear arms during the War was given by either officer.
§ Sir IVOR HERBERTIs Colonel Gordon considered to be equivalent to an officer in the position of Prince Salm-Salm in the German Army, and is it not usual that there should be an equal exchange in these cases?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe whole subject has been very fully considered.
§ Sir IVOR HERBERTAs this matter is within the department of the Foreign Office, was this exchange carried out with the concurrence and approval of the Secretary of State for War?
§ Mr. FORSTERYes.
§ 3. Mr. MALCOLMasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Mr. Justice Younger's Committee has consented to the publication of its reports on German prisoner camps; and, if so, whether they will soon be circulated in a White Paper?
§ Mr. JAMES HOPE (Treasurer of the Household)We propose to publish any Reports sent to us by the Government Committee which are likely to throw light on the treatment of our prisoners in Germany without detriment to their interests. Many of these Reports refer to a state of things existing some months ago, and in reading them that fact must be clearly borne in mind.
§ Mr. MALCOLMHas the Committee consented to the publication of these Reports, and will they be circulated with the White Papers?
§ Mr. HOPEThe Reports forwarded by Mr. Justice Younger's Committee are 699 being considered with a view to seeing which part of them can be published without detriment. It is quite obvious that information might be disclosed which might act unfavourably on the treatment of prisoners.
§ Mr. MALCOLMIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the Reports have been in the possession of the Foreign Office a good many months, and will they make up their minds soon?
§ 4. Mr. MALCOLMasked whether His Majesty's Government have yet arranged to send invalid civilian prisoners to Switzerland under the same terms as those which apply to French, German, and Belgian civilian prisoners of war?
§ Mr. FORSTERAs the transfer of German invalid civilians interned in this country to Switzerland would be a matter of considerable difficulty, a scheme is now under consideration for the mutual repatriation of such invalids from this country and Germany on somewhat the same lines as to the method of selection and schedule of invalidity as now obtain for the transfer of combatant prisoners of war to Switzerland.
§ 5. Sir CHARLES HENRYasked whether the German Government are making allowances to the wives and families of interned civilian prisoners; and, if so, how do these allowances compare with those made to the wives and families of interned civilian prisoners in this country?
§ Mr. HOPEThe reply to the first part of the question is in the negative; the second part of the question does not therefore appear to arise.
§ 6. Mr. MALCOLMasked whether any further Reports have been received from the American Embassy regarding the condition of British prisoner camps in Germany since 30th June; and, if so, when they will be circulated in a White Paper?
§ Lord R. CECILFurther Reports have been received. The question of their publication is still under consideration.