§ 7. Sir J. D. REESasked the Secretary of State for India whether the Report of the Swiss Red Cross Commissioners who visited India last year to investigate the condition of prisoners of war in that country has been, or will be, published or made available for perusal by Members?
§ Mr. HERBERT FISHERThe full Report of the Swiss Delegates of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Geneva, on their visits to the prisoners of 6 war camps in India was published by the Committee in June, 1917, through the Librarie Georg et Cie, Geneva, and the Librarie Fischbacher, 33, Rue de Seine, Paris. Extracts of the Report, together with a descriptive article by one of the delegates, have been published in pamphlet form by Messrs. Fisher Unwin. Copies of both publications have been placed in the Library.
14. Colonel Sir F. HALLasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether it is proposed to take any further action with regard to the murder of Able-seaman John Player Genower by a German sentry when attempting to escape from a burning building at Brandenburg Camp in March, 1917; whether any reliable evidence has been forthcoming that there has been any substantial improvement in the treatment by Germans of prisoners of war as a result of this and similar revelations; and if the Government will indicate what steps have been taken to ensure an accurate record of these and other atrocities for which at the proper time it is proposed to exact punishment?
§ 17. Mr. PETOasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what, if any, further action it is proposed to take in reference to the case of a British naval prisoner of war burnt to death in confinement cells at Brandenburga (Havel), as reported in White Paper Cd. 8987; and whether steps are being taken to give the widest publicity to this further German outrage in neutral and Allied countries as well as in this country?
§ Mr. HOPE (Lord of the Treasury)The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The Papers have been published as an illustration of brutality which it seems desirable to expose, and the attention of the Minstry of Information has been called to the matter with a view to their taking appropriate steps to give the earliest publicity to the outrage. The answer to the second part of the question is that there are indications of improvement in the general treatment of British prisoners of war in hospitals and most of the larger camps. We have, however, indisputable evidence of grave ill-treatment of prisoners in mines and in many of the working camps; also of the officers and men throughout the 10th Army Corps District; and especially of prisoners behind the lines on the Eastern and Western Fronts. A White Paper 7 dealing with the last point has recently been issued which contains overwhelming proof of the existence of prolonged and systematic barbarity. With regard to the third part of the question, a Committee (the Government Committee on the Treatment by the Enemy of British Prisoners of War) exists for the purpose of keeping a careful record of every phase of the treatment of British prisoners of war, whether by the German Government or by individual Germans.
§ Mr. PEMBERTON BILLINGDoes the Government endeavour to ascertain the names of the German officers responsible, and has it kept them on record for use after the War?
§ Mr. HOPEAll the information on points of that kind are kept on record by the Committee to which I have referred.
Sir F. HALLMay I ask whether a full Report with regard to these atrocities will be issued to Members, and does t the hon. Gentleman not think it would be a good idea, in order that this matter should be kept fresh in the minds of the British public, that posters should be issued bringing them plainly and fully before the minds of the public?
§ Mr. HOPEI think there is ample information in the publication which I have referred to; but on the latter point—how far these things may be used for propaganda purposes—is a matter for the Ministry of Information.
§ Mr. PETOMay I ask whether any steps have been taken or are contemplated to bring these matters to the attention of neutral Governments, with a view to an international neutral representation being made to the Gorman Government on the question of these atrocities?
§ Mr. HOPEI cannot say that any special intimation has been made to neutral Governments That, again, is a question for the Minister of Propaganda.