HC Deb 20 May 1919 vol 116 cc179-80
8. Mr. LYLE

asked the Secretary of State for War if he can now state what reply, if any, has been received from the German authorities to our requests for information touching the fate of the untraced British prisoners who are known to have fallen into their hands and then disappeared?

Captain GUEST

The German authorities have made no direct reply to the demand for information as to the fate of the untraced British prisoners of war, but the German official lists of deaths, which were sent periodically from Berlin during the War, are still being received and a number of reports relating to the previously untraced prisoners have appeared in them. The British Military Mission in Berlin has also been able to collect from the German records a considerable number of definite reports of deaths which had not previously been sent to this country and evidence has been obtained from other sources. The information received in various ways since the list was presented to the German authorities has enabled the number of outstanding cases to be reduced to considerably less than half, 1,763 cases having been settled, while 1,299 remain at present unsettled.

Mr. LYLE

Failing an immediate satisfactory reply, does the right hon. Gentleman not consider that steps should at once be taken against the governors of the districts in which our prisoners disappeared?

Captain GUEST

The machinery, which is working now very successfully, has in a short time reduced the number of untraced men by more than one-half.

Major ENTWISTLE

In view of the great number of cases of this sort can he tell us if there is any hope that any of these missing men are still alive, because we nave to answer these questions, and it would be of great importance if the Government could give some assurance on the matter?

Captain GUEST

I think, on the whole, it would be very unwise to hold out much hope.