§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKS (by Private Notice)To ask the Prime Minister whether, and, if so, when he is prepared to make a full statement with regard to the position of prisoners of war and the steps to be taken by the Government to enforce better treatment of those of our men who are still being treated with brutality by the Germans?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI cannot add anything to the statement which has appeared in the Press and which I am sure my hon. Friend has seen.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSDoes my right hon. Friend not see that that leaves our unfortunate men to another month of the brutalities of the Germans, and will he consider the possibility, in any negotiations for an armistice, to make it a condition precedent that the Hague Agreement be carried out forthwith?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI believe a question on that point is being put to my right hon. Friend. But it does not follow, I hope, that it means a delay of a month, because we hope our action will produce the desired results. A month is required by the conditions of the Hague Convention.
Colonel Sir F. HALL (by Private Notice)asked the Prime Minister whether the Note which has been addressed through the Netherlands Government to Germany as to the steps which will be taken unless the ill-treatment and torture of British prisoners of war is discontinued, provides for the period of four weeks to elapse before such steps are taken; whether, in the event of Germany waiting until near the expiration of this period of grace 23 before giving the guarantees demanded, she will be considered to have complied with the British Note; and if he will indicate, in view of the fact that the ill-treatment of British prisoners has been known to be going on since the War commenced, and for a long period after the testimony on the subject by released prisoners was available, why these representations have been delayed so long, and what is the necessity of imposing on our prisoners another four weeks of this inhuman treatment?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI am sorry I have not received any notice of that question, but the last part was already answered by my reply to my hon. Friend—the four weeks are a necessity of the Hague Convention.
Sir F. HALLI sent the question to the Prime Minister yesterday at the same time as I addressed it to Mr. Speaker.
§ Brigadier-General CROFTAs the whole of this action on the part of our enemies is contrary to the Hague Convention, will he, if any evidence comes to him in the meantime of further brutalities, take instant reprisals against German prisoners here on the question of rations and other comforts?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWObviously—and I think my hon. and gallant Friend will agree—specific questions of that kind should be put on the Notice Paper.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEMay I ask whether the French prisoners in German hands are now being returned—has the exchange been completed?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI think notice should be given of that question, but I believe that after having been stopped for a time it is now resumed.
§ Sir E. HUME-WILLIAMS (by Private Notice)asked the Home Secretary if he can state when the Government were first made aware that the Hague Agreement with reference to prisoners would not be ratified by Germany; whether Germany has yet sent a reply to the recent "requirements" on the subject of prisoners recently addressed to her by England; whether any agreement has yet been reached with our Allies as to the nature of the reprisals to be enforced if Germany persists in her brutal treatment of the prisoners whom she holds; and 24 whether the Government will give an assurance that in any peace negotiations they may undertake with any Power, the immediate and unconditional return of prisoners shall be among the first conditions to be considered?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir George Cave)The date when the Government were first made aware of the refusal of Germany to ratify the Hague Agreement except upon conditions which could not be accepted is the 5th October. Germany has not yet sent a reply to the requirements on the subject of prisoners recently addressed to her by this country. The nature of the reprisals to be taken in the event of Germany not complying with those requirements has not yet been agreed with our Allies, but arrangements are being made for an early discussion on the subject, and a conclusion will undoubtedly be reached before the date when reprisals can be taken. As to the last part of the question, it has already been announced that instructions have been given that in the event of an armistice being concluded with Turkey the immediate and unconditional release of the British prisoners in Turkish hands shall be made a condition of such armistice. In the case of the Central Powers it is thought undesirable that the conditions on which alone a cessation of hostilities would be agreed to should be discussed piecemeal, but I can assure my hon. and learned Friend that the question which he raises has been and will be borne constantly in mind.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSDid not the President in his late Note say that atrocities must cease, and ought not brutalities to prisoners be treated as atrocities within the terms of the President's dispatch.?
§ Sir G. CAVEUndoubtedly they deserve that description.
§ Colonel C. LOWTHERCould not the German Government be informed that any German officer responsible for any brutality to British prisoners in the future will be immediately shot at the end of hostilities?
§ Sir G. CAVEThey have been informed that we shall do our utmost to exact punishment.