§ 44. General CROFTasked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) what steps are being taken to effect an exchange of prisoners between the British and Turkish Governments?
§ Mr. JAMES HOPE (Lord of the Treasury)As my hon. and gallant Friend is aware, an agreement for the exchange of prisoners is already in force. His 30 Majesty's Government are waiting to learn from the Turkish Government the date upon which the first 1,000 British invalid prisoners will be ready for embarkation, and whether an assurance that the repatriation ship will be immune from attack has been obtained from the other enemy Governments. The Netherland Minister at Constantinople has been requested to press the Turkish Government for a reply on both these points. In regard to the possibility of a further agreement, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply returned to my Noble Friend the Member for Nottingham on the 10th instant.
§ General CROFTIs this question being discussed at all at the Hague Conference?
§ 47. Mr. NOEL BUXTONasked the Prime Minister whether he can now make any further statement as to the initiation of negotiations with Turkey and with Bulgaria for the exchange of prisoners?
§ Mr. HOPEI cannot do better than refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I returned to my Noble Friend the Member for Nottingham on the 10th instant.
§ Mr. BUXTONIs the question of the exchange of prisoners with Bulgaria coming up at the Hague, and if my hon. Friend can make any statement as to the progress made?
§ Mr. HOPEIt does not come up at the Hague conference with Germany, but I said on Monday last that consultations would be or had been started on the subject with the Bulgarian Minister at the Hague.