§ 90. Mr. GILBERTasked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) if he can state the number of German prisoners detained in this country on 31st December last; and if he will state what number of the total are employed in agriculture or other industries?
§ Mr. HOPE (Lord of the Treasury)The total number of combatant prisoners of war in this country on 9th January was 49,817, but of these only 31,541 were available for employment, the rest being exempted by rank or personal disability. The number actually employed on necessary camp duties and services of national importance was 28,050, while the whole of the remainder have been already allotted to such services and only await the necessary accommodation.
§ 91. Mr. G. FABERasked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) whether Captain von Müller, late of the "Emden," and Lieutenant von Tirpitz were both. or was either of them, among 499 the German prisoners of war recently returned by us; and have they been returned to Germany or to Holland for internment there?
§ Mr. HOPEBoth of these officers are now interned in Holland under the provisions of The Hague agreement.
§ Mr. FABERWill the hon. Member tell me who were received back in exchange for those two German prisoners?
§ Mr. HOPEI am afraid that my hon. Friend has not quite taken in the provisions of The Hague agreement. Officers interned in Holland go there not in exchange at all, but solely according to the time they have been in captivity. There is no question of setting one prisoner against another. Those officers who have been in captivity for a certain length of time have a right to go, just as certain of our officers have a similar right.
§ Mr FABERIf we have an officer of high rank in a corresponding position, will he come home or be interned in Holland as a matter of course?
§ Major HUNTWhat is the length of time?
§ Mr. HOPEThe length of time for an officer to be eligible for internment is eighteen months' captivity, but those who are eligible take their turn in priority of captivity.
§ Mr. FABERDo the Germans recognise this practice of ours the same as we do and treat it as automatic?
§ Mr. HOPEYes; I think they do. I cannot say absolutely that it goes date by date, but certainly all our earliest prisoners, so far as my information goes, have gone to Holland now.
§ Mr. FABERCan the hon. Gentleman say, if and when it suits Germany, whether Germany holds back any people who may be of special value to her?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member must give notice if he wants any further information.