HC Deb 26 November 1917 vol 99 cc1645-6
90. Mr. BUTCHER

asked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) as to the arrangements by which wounded or disabled British officers and non-commissioned officers prisoners of war who are in Germany and Switzerland, respectively, are selected in order to be sent home to this country, and the arrangements by which wounded or disabled German prisoners of war who are in Eng land and Switzerland, respectively, are selected in order to be sent home to Germany?

Mr. JAMES HOPE (Lord of the Treasury)

German prisoners of war in the United Kingdom of whatever rank are selected for repatriation to Germany by British medical boards: similarly British prisoners of war in Germany are selected for repatriation to the United Kingdom by German medical boards. British and German prisoners interned in Switzerland are selected for repatriation to the United Kingdom or Germany by the Swiss medical authorities.

91. Mr. BUTCHER

asked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) as to the arrangements by which unwounded British officers and non-commissioned officers prisoners of war who were captured in the earlier time of the War are to be sent either to Holland or to Switzerland; whether they will be so sent in the strict order of the priority of dates on which they were captured; and whether he will also state the arrangements as to sending unwounded German prisoners of war to Holland and Switzerland, respectively?

Mr. HOPE

British and German officers and non-commissioned officers who have been in captivity for not less than eighteen months and who are not disabled, will be transferred to Holland as and when accommodation and means of transport are available. This transfer will take place in order of priority of capture, irrespective of nationality or other considerations. In this connection I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to paragraph 11 of The Hague Agreement.

Mr. BUTCHER

Do I understand no unwounded prisoners of war have yet been sent either to Switzerland or Holland?

Mr. HOPE

Certainly not to Holland. I am not sure as to Switzerland. The difficulty has now been overcome, and, unless fresh difficulties arise I believe the transfer will very soon take place.