§ 5. Captain Gammansasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the service of telegrams to British prisoners of war in Japanese hands has yet started; and, if so, how many telegrams have been sent and acknowledged.
§ Mr. EdenThe start of the service of telegrams to British prisoners of war and civilian internees in Japanese hands was 769 announced to the House on 21st December by my right hon. Friend the Under-Secretary. Up to Friday, 16th February, the British Red Cross War Organisation had despatched 10,000 messages to prisoners and internees. These telegrams were sent at the rate of 1,000 a week for the first four weeks and thereafter at the rate of 2,000 a week, according to plan. In all 42,300 applications to send telegrams have been received by the Red Cross, and they are being dealt with as rapidly as possible. The scheme does not provide for acknowledgments, but it does provide for the despatch of telegrams from the prisoners of war and interned civilians to their families.
§ Captain GammansHave any returned telegrams been received in this country?