§ 49. Mr. PETOasked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) whether any advance has been made in the negotiations for the return of civilians interned in Turkey, particularly officers and crews of merchant vessels interned at the outbreak of war, to this country; and when any definite action will be expected?
§ Mr. JAMES HOPE (Lord of the Treasury)I would refer my hon. Friend to the Agreement with the Turkish Government, the text of which has been laid before Parliament in White Paper, Miscellaneous No. 10 of this year. From Article 10 of that Agreement he will see the arrangements provided for the repatriation of members of the British mercantile marine in Turkey. As the Turkish Government have not yet given notice of the date when the first British prisoners will be ready for embarkation, it is not, I fear, probable that the repatriations can begin for some time.
§ Mr. PETOI am asking what are the steps which the Government propose to take to get this agreement carried out?
§ Mr. HOPEAll that they can do at the moment is to use all the pressure they can until the Netherlands representative gets to Constantinople, and that has been done.