HC Deb 07 November 1944 vol 404 cc1252-3
33. Sir A. Knox

asked the Secretary of State for War when the last consignment of prisoner-of-war parcels were shipped from Lisbon to Marseilles; and what is the cause of the continued delay in the transport of the 1,500,000 parcels from Lisbon to Geneva and also of the delay in the transport of parcels from Götenburg to Germany.

Sir J. Grigg

The answer to the first part of the Question is that Red Cross shipping between Lisbon and Marseilles was suspended after 16th May last, owing to the development and consequences of operations in the Mediterranean area and subsequently in Southern France. Four British Red Cross ships due to leave on 6th November should have sailed by now from Lisbon as a result of the re-opening of Marseilles Harbour and of the railways in Southern France. The inception of transport of Red Cross supplies from Gothenburg to Germany has been hampered by lack of suitable shipping, and the need to secure the combined agreement of the various Governments concerned, including the German Government, as well as the International Red Cross Committee, to special arrangements to make good this deficiency.

Sir A. Knox

Can my right hon. Friend give any estimate as to when these 1,500,000 parcels in Lisbon will be passed to Geneva, as it is essential that a big reserve of parcels should be built up in all the camps? We do not want a situation to recur such as happened in 1940.

Sir J. Grigg

A certain amount of caution is required in this proposal to build up reserves in all the camps, because there are stories, which I believe to be true, that the Germans are ordering camps to consume everything on hand. That is the reason for a certain amount of caution. Secondly, arrangements are being made to ship direct from this country, which may be easier than shipping from Lisbon to Marseilles. In consequence, it may be quite a time before the parcels to Lisbon are finally cleared.

Mr. Shinwell

In view of the delay, can my right hon. Friend say whether similar delays are experienced in bringing prisoner of war parcels from Germany for German prisoners of war in this country?

Sir J. Grigg

I do not think I have any information about that but I will certainly see whether I can get any. In point of fact, as my hon. Friend has referred to delays, I may say that I expect that the Lisbon-Marseilles route has been opened, and the volume of traffic from Marseilles onwards has been started, in such a way as to be beyond anything we could have expected a month ago.

Mr. Godfrey Nicholson

Will my right hon. Friend take the earliest opportunity of reassuring the relatives of prisoners of war, as many of them are definitely anxious that the 1940 situation shall not recur?

Sir J. Grigg

As I say, it is beyond the power of His Majesty's Government to control the matter. If the German Government insist, as they have threatened to do, that there shall be no reserves in the camps and that everything shall be sent for immediate consumption, then there will be a good deal of trouble.

Sir A. Knox

Is it not important, therefore, that we should build up reserves at Geneva?

Sir J. Grigg

At Geneva, certainly. Everything possible is being done to build up a reserve at Geneva.