§ 27. Sir JOHN BUTCHERasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether commandants of internment camps for German officer prisoners of war are permitted to impose any punishments on those officers for breaches of discipline, disobedience to the regulations, or any other offences; whether the only process by which punishment can be imposed in such cases is to report them to the headquarters of the command and to obtain the appointment of a military court of five members to try each individual case; whether, in order to maintain the discipline of the camp and the authority of the commandant, he will empower the commandant to impose minor punishments, such as fourteen days' confinement, on offending German officers as is done in the case of offending German privates and non-commissioned officers; and whether he will state what is the practice adopted in these matters in Germany in internment camps for British officer prisoners of war?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir G. Cave)Under Article 8 of the Hague Convention, 1909, prisoners of war are subject to the laws and regulations in force in the Army of the State in the power of which they are. The result is that German officers who are prisoners of war in this country are dealt with in accordance with our military code, and are tried by court-martial, while British officers who are prisoners of war in Germany may, under the German code, be punished within certain limits without court-martial. I have inquired whether it is possible and desirable so to alter our military regulations as to permit of a German officer being punished by the Commandant alone for minor offences; but I am informed by the War Office that there would be great difficulty in making this change, and that in fact the necessity for a court-martial causes very little delay and makes no difference in the punishment awarded.
§ Sir J. BUTCHERIn view of the fact that the Germans have persistently violated all the material provisions of the Hague Convention, is there any reason why we should show this undue leniency to German officers when guilty of indiscipline 1263 and breach of regulations when they do not show us any similar leniency in their country?
§ Sir G. CAVEThere is no leniency at all. German officers suffer just the same punishment. They have to await trial under arrest.
§ Brigadier-General McCALMONTIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware there are many restrictions that can be enforced upon British officers without trial, and cannot restrictions on liberty be applied to German officers in the same way?
§ Sir G. CAVECertainly, Sir! And restrictions are applied to German officers.
§ Sir J. BUTCHERIn view of the fact that Germans violate all the provisions of the Hague Convention, why should we adhere to a provision which protects German officers from the consequence of their action?
§ Sir G. CAVEI have just said it does not protect them in the least.
§ 28. Sir J. BUTCHERasked the Home Secretary whether German officer prisoners of war in internment camps in this country are permitted to purchase at the canteen wine and spirits and in what quantities; and whether, in view of the difficulties which our own soldiers and civilians in this country experience in obtaining even small quantities of wine or spirits, he will forbid the purchase of these articles by German officer prisoners of war?
§ Sir G. CAVEOfficers who are prisoners of war in this country are allowed to purchase light wines to a limited amount if procurable from the canteen managers but not spirits. The question of forbidding the purchase of wine will shortly come under consideration.
§ Mr. WATTWill the right hon. Gentleman say what in his opinion is a "limited extent" to buying wine?
§ Sir J. BUTCHERMay I ask my right hon. Friend how much wine are these prisoners allowed to buy, and is it a fact that they have sometimes been found drunk?
§ Sir G. CAVEI am informed half a bottle a day. Our prisoners in Germany are allowed to purchase without limit.
§ Colonel ASHLEYWill the civil population in England be allowed to purchase that amount? I cannot get it for my household.
§ Mr. FLAVINMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he is aware there are many small traders in Ireland who cannot get half a bottle in six months?
§ 29. Sir J. BUTCHERasked the Home Secretary whether there is any limit on the amount of money which German officer prisoners of war in this country are permitted to spend on food and clothing; and, if so, what is the limit?
§ Sir G. CAVEGerman officer prisoners of war in this country are limited in the amount of food and clothing which they may purchase. As regards food, a scale has been laid down, of which I will send my hon. and learned Friend a copy. As regards clothing, the instructions are that no prisoner of war shall be allowed to purchase more clothing than is required for actual use.
§ Sir C. HENRYWill the right hon. Gentleman give the amount in money?
§ Sir G. CAVEI do not think the limit can be expressed in money.
§ Sir J. BUTCHERAs this is a matter of some interest to people in this country who are short of food and clothing, can my right hon. Friend circulate with the Votes the maximum amount of money which they may spend on food and the amount of money they may spend on clothing, and who is the judge of the necessity?
§ Sir G. CAVEI have just said there is no money limit, but I will certainly, if the hon. Gentleman wishes it, circulate the full scale.