HC Deb 28 February 1945 vol 408 cc1391-5
The Secretary of State far War (Sir James Grigg)

With the permission of the House, I would like to make a statement.

The House is already aware that the progress of the Allied attacks on Germany, by land and from the air, has resulted in mass movements of prisoners and civilians from the perimeter towards the central districts, particularly from the eastern side of Germany. The conditions under which such movements must take place have, largely, been created by the military success of the Allies. But, inevitably, these conditions involve for large numbers of our prisoners in Germany movement on foot under difficult conditions with inadequate provision on the road for accommodation at night and for food, and eventually overcrowding in the camps to which they are moved back.

The representatives of the Protecting Power in Germany are doing all they can to secure improvements from the Germans; and their efforts have not been without some results. For example, they have been assured that, in future, sick or weak prisoners will be moved by train or lorry, and we know for certain that this has been done in some recent cases. Between 19th and 24th February their inspectors were due to pay special visits to certain camps to which British prisoners of war have been transferred and I will give the substance of their reports to the House as soon as they arrive.

The Government and the British Red Cross War Organisation had foreseen that, as the weight of attack on Germany was pressed home, this situation might arise. Efforts had therefore been made to establish substantial reserves in the camps of Red Cross food parcels, medical supplies and comforts, clothing and boots; and we hope that despite the interruptions in supplies to Geneva, consequent on operations in the South of France last summer, the position in the matter of clothing will not become serious. In the case of food parcels, however, the Germans last autumn insisted on those reserve stocks being reduced to a weekly basis. To the best of our knowledge, this order was enforced in most of the camps and the excess stocks were consumed accordingly. Recently, the International Red Cross Committee, as a result of long negotiation, had secured agreement from the German authorities to the establishment of limited reserve supplies of food parcels outside the camps, but this agreement came too late for it to become effective before the disorganisation in Germany had reached a point where transport facilities for Red Cross supplies from Switzerland had been seriously reduced. Not only are few railway wagons reaching Switzerland from Germany, but such trains as are despatched from Geneva, cannot, we understand, get very far into Germany. While everyone will welcome the results of this disorganisation, so far as the war effort is concerned, it has created increasing anxiety for the welfare of the British Commonwealth prisoners.

Naturally, this situation has, for a long time, been present in the minds of His Majesty's Government, and of the British Red Cross Society, and various possibilities have been examined in order to meet it. The supply of food to prisoners from the air is one of these possibilities. The Government have satisfied themselves that this is not at present practicable, but if circumstances change, and it becomes feasible, use will certainly be made of this means of supply.

Negotiations are in train for the purchase of lorries in Sweden, which could enter Germany and be used to transport supplies from Lubech to prisoner of war camps in Northern Germany. These lorries burn wood. As Sweden is so abundantly supplied, this is a great advantage, but we have undertaken to replace any tyres or oil which are used for this project, and also any petrol in the event of ordinary lorries being used as well as the wood-burning ones.

Similar projects have been examined for introducing supplies from Switzerland. As I have just said, the railways in South Germany are apparently so disorganised and clogged with traffic that the supply of wagons in Switzerland is not likely to help, It has been possible to proceed further with the supply of lorries. The Supreme Allied Command, who are as it were on the spot, are obviously in the best position to do whatever is possible. The British Government in the United Kingdom, as well as the Commonwealth and the United States Governments, in agreement with the respective national Red Cross organisations, have asked the Supreme Allied Command in France to carry on on their behalf all negotiations with the International Red Cross in these matters. Hon. Members will realise that nothing is likely to be achieved except through the good offices of the International Red Cross Committee.

One hundred lorries which were being used in France by the International Red Cross, have been assembled in Switzerland and they are now ready to enter Germany with food parcels. It is, however, impossible to proceed further without the agreement of the German authorities, and I do not yet know to what extend the steps which the International Red Cross are endeavouring to take will in fact be acceptable to the Germans. I understand that a representative of theirs left Switzerland yesterday for Berlin, in order to obtain the agreement which is necessary. But I would like to assure the House that there will be no difficulty on the score of provision of lorries by the Supreme Allied Command. Indeed, 100 more lorries are ready to go into Switzerland at once, if those which are there now are allowed into Germany, and arrangements have been made to supply petrol, oil, tyres and spare parts to Switzerland when they are needed. I should add that the British Red Cross War Organisation have authorised the International Red Cross Committee to incur on their behalf, any expenditure which they consider necessary in connection with the care of our prisoners now in German hands.

I hope I have shown that the Government in this country, the Supreme Allied Command and the British Red Cross Society are doing all in their power to see that any request from the International Red Cross for vehicles, fuel or maintenance stores which can be effectively used to supply our prisoners is met, subject only to the condition that such assistance will not weaken the attack on Germany and so delay the conclusion of hostilities. I will give the House any further information I can at the earliest possible opportunity.

Sir William Davison

I am sure the House will be glad to learn that lorries will be available to take these stores which are accumulating in Switzerland. Do I understand that the reason the lorries are not being made use of is that the Germans will not allow them to proceed?

Sir J. Grigg

No, Sir. What I tried to make clear was that the lorries cannot proceed without the consent of the German Government, and that the International Red Cross representatives are on their way to, and are probably now in, Berlin in order to obtain that consent from the German Government. As soon as the consent is obtained, the lorries are ready to move.

Sir Joseph Lamb

Can the Minister assure the House that these convoys will be easily recognisable from the air in order to minimise any danger of bombardment during transport?

Sir J. Grigg

That is a very pertinent question. I understand that they have been specially painted, but even so, I suspect that a good deal of the movement will have to take place at night.

Mr. Edgar Granville

In view of the fact that the Germans are supplying their garrisons at La Rochelle and other places on the Atlantic coast by air at night, and that we also supplied our prisoners in Greece in that way, is there any reason why we should not supply our men by air at night, even if some of the food gets into the hands of the Germans?

Sir J. Grigg

It is not in the least the same problem, and I can assure the hon. Member that the opinion I have given as that of the Government, was not arrived at without consultation with the military and air advisers.

Mr. Buchanan

While I welcome the right hon. Gentleman's statement, may I ask him if he will continue to inform the House of the progress in this matter, and give us regular statements about it?

Sir J. Grigg

Both on this subject and on the subject of prisoners released where camps have been over-run by our Allies in the East, I will certainly give the House whatever information comes to me as quickly as I can.

Mr. Silverman

Has the right hon. Gentleman any information to confirm or deny the reports which are reaching some of us that in the camps which are being over-run, or are likely to be over-run in the East, the Germans have started a practice of segregating Jewish prisoners of war from other prisoners, and putting them into separate camps? In view of the obvious sinister intentions of any such move, has the right hon. Gentleman any information, and, if not, will he make inquiries?

Sir J. Grigg

I have not any information at the moment, but I will certainly make inquiries and see if any has come through.