§ General Sir IVOR PHILIPPSasked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central J Division) what number of prisoners of war are receiving bread from Copenhagen; and what amount of bread is now being sent weekly from that depot?
Mr. J. HOPEThe number of prisoners at present receiving bread from Copenhagen is, I understand, roughly, 19,000. During the month of June, 80,336 bread parcels, each containing 4⅓ lbs. of bread, and 4,106 biscuit parcels were dispatched. For the week ending 23rd June, 20,172 parcels, each containing 4⅓ lbs., were dispatched. The bureau in Copenhagen, which hitherto has been responsible for the dispatch of bread to our prisoners, is being broken up on 15th July, and as from 16th July individual parcels of biscuits to all prisoners of war who hitherto have been in 1916 receipt of bread from Copenhagen will be dispatched from this country, allowing a ration of 4 lbs. per week for each prisoner. Since 16th June biscuits in bulk calculated to supply each prisoner with 4 lbs. a week have been sent from this country.
§ Mr. LOUGHHas my hon. Friend inquired whether there is any proof that these parcels have been received?
Mr. HOPEAs to the quite recent parcels, there is no proof of certainty yet; but there is no doubt that parcels are being delivered, generally speaking.
§ Mr. HUME-WILLIAMS(by Private Notice) asked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) whether the agreement recently concluded at The Hague between the representatives of Great Britain and Germany with reference to prisoners of war has now been adopted by the respective Governments, and whether he has any information to give to the House on the subject?
Mr. HOPEYes, Sir. The provisional agreement concluded at The Hague has received the approval of His Majesty's Government. I am sorry, however, that I cannot give its terms until it has likewise been ratified by the German Government.
§ Mr. HUME-WILLIAMSHow soon does the hon. Gentleman hope we shall be able to be supplied with the terms?
§ Mr. WHITEHOUSEIn the meantime, can the hon. Gentleman say whether the names of the captured English officers are being transmitted to the Government here?
§ Mr. WHITEHOUSEIs the hon. Gentleman aware great anxiety has been caused to many who have been unable to get any news of missing relatives reported by the War Office as missing and believed captured?
Mr. HOPENo doubt there are cases of that kind, but it has always been the rule that the Government shall transmit a list of captured officers to the Government of the country of those officers.