HC Deb 25 July 1918 vol 108 cc1993-5
47. Sir J. CRAIG

asked the Prime Minister whether he is now in a position to announce the terms of the new Hague Agreement as to prisoners of war?

Mr. BONAR LAW

I should be obliged if my hon. and gallant Friend would await the statement which my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary proposes to make at the end of questions.

Mr. RUNCI MAN

I beg to ask the Home Secretary whether he can make any statement in regard to British interned prisoners in Switzerland, and the conditions governing the access of their relatives to them?

Sir G. CAVE

I ask the permission of the House to make a short statement for the information of Members with regard to the agreement recently concluded at The Hague as the result of a long and difficult negotiation. It is not possible at present to state the full effect of the agreement, but in substance it may be divided into two parts—the first relating to the exchange of prisoners and the second to their treatment. With regard to the exchange of prisoners, the agreement provides for the repatriation of all combatant prisoners of war who have been eighteen months in captivity, and of all civilians who wish to return home. The combatants are to be exchanged man for man and rank for rank; but as to the civilians, under which head there is a wide discrepancy in numbers between the two countries, even as regards male civilian prisoners, the difference is to be compensated by the return of additional British combatants in proportions specified in the agreement. The exchange includes the combatants and civilians interned in Holland and Switzerland.

With regard to treatment, the agreement follows generally the lines of the Franco-German Agreement, but there are special provisions for improving the conditions of prisoners of war with regard to employment in mines, to the retention of prisoners in an area of operations, to notification of capture, to examination by neutral medical commissions, and to other matters. The agreement is to terminate on the 1st August, 1919. It is estimated that by that date a total number of combatants and male civilians approximating to 120,000 will have become eligible for repatriation. It is, I think, important to bear in mind that the agreement will not take effect unless ratified by both Governments, and is subject to a special reservation made by the German delegates. Speaking for myself, I venture to express the opinion that it is undesirable to enter into any detailed discussion of the terms of the agreement until ratification has been secured.

Mr. J. HENDERSON

Does it include officers as well as non-commissioned officers and men?

Sir G. CAVE

Yes.

Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

Is it 120,000 on both sides?

Sir G. CAVE

On each side.

Mr. ALBION RICHARDSON

Have the War Cabinet yet decided whether the agreement should be ratified by the British Government, and, if not, when is that decision likely to be reached?

Sir G. CAVE

A decision has not yet been taken, but it will, I understand, be taken in a day or two.

Sir J. CRAIG

Before ratification, would it be possible to begin with an exchange amongst the soldiers?

Sir G. CAVE

I should be glad if that could be done, but I doubt whether the German Government would agree to it.

Sir J. CRAIG

Is it not worth while for the right hon. Gentleman to press this, seeing that it would not trespass on any of the special terms of the agreement, to allow an immediate evacuation of prisoners below the rank of N.C.O. on both sides?

Mr. R. McNEILL

Will German civilians interned in this country be repatriated under that agreement, whether they desire to be repatriated or not?

Sir G. CAVE

No, Sir. So far as the agreement goes, they will only be repatriated if they desire it. Whether they will be repatriated for other reasons is a matter to be determined hereafter.

Mr. McNEILL

Will the result of that not be that some British combatant prisoners will be retained in captivity to gratify the desire of civilian Germans to remain in this country?

Sir G. CAVE

I think we had better not discuss that matter. I have already given the House the information.

Colonel Sir F. HALL

Were the other matters to which the right hon. Gentleman referred not also subjects of correspondence as to whether it has been impossible in many cases for British prisoners in Germany to correspond with this side?

Sir G. CAVE

The question was fully discussed and it is provided for in the agreement.