§ 75. Colonel BURNasked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) when the prisoners of war at Changri, Asia Minor, will be moved in accordance with the promise given at the Berne Conference that this camp should be abandoned; and is he aware that no parcel has been received by an officer in that camp since early in August, 1917?
§ Mr. HOPE (Lord of the Treasury)The promise given by the Turkish delegates at the Berne Conference that the prisoners of war at Changri should be moved to another camp has been only partly carried out, as about half of them have not yet been transferred. An urgent remonstrance on this head was recently addressed to the Turkish Government. So far as His Majesty's Government are aware, there were no British officers at Changri for a long time before the transfer thither of those from Kastamuni in October, 1917. It is possible that the transfer has occasioned considerable delay in the arrival of parcels.
§ Colonel BURNCan my hon. Friend give me any information as to the non-receipt of food parcels at these camps in Turkey?
§ Mr. HOPEI am afraid the only information I can give is that about 70 per cent. of the parcels do not get there, but the Department is very carefully considering if some means can be devised which will lead to a larger proportion reaching. Of course, a great part of the anxiety would be allayed if the Berne Agreement were ratified by the Turkish Government.
§ Colonel BURNDoes my hon. Friend realise that some officers in that camp are absolutely suffering from starvation, that it is impossible to get anything locally, and the food supplied by the Turks is nothing approaching sufficient to keep body and soul together?
§ Mr. HOPEI realise a great deal which is extremely painful about the position of our prisoners. If my hon. and gallant Friend can suggest any new means of helping them which has not been thought of before, I shall be extremely grateful.
§ Colonel BURNDoes not the hon. Gentleman think the only possible means of dealing with the Turks is to bribe them?
§ 74. Major HUNTasked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) whether, in view of the admitted starvation and treatment of British prisoners of war in Germany, he can say what steps are being taken to prevent this in the future?
§ Mr. HOPEIt was arranged that this question was to be answered together with No. 50. That question was postponed, and I am afraid this must be postponed too.
§ Major HUNTWill the accounts of the cruelty and torture inflicted on our prisoners by the Germans be well circulated over the country?