§ 11. Mr. Fosterasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the re-examination of the question of an exchange of war prisoners has now been concluded; and whether he will make a statement.
§ 9. Major-General Sir Alfred Knoxasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, if he will now make a statement regarding the possibility of arrangements being made for the exchange to a neutral country or repatriation of prisoners of war who have been long in captivity.
§ Mr. EdenA fresh proposal regarding able-bodied long-term prisoners of war has been handed to the Swiss Government for communication to the German Government. This proposal provides for the direct repatriation, through Switzerland, of a number of British prisoners of war belonging to the Navy, Army, Air Force and Merchant Service captured before 1st July, 1940, in exchange for an equal number of German prisoners of war.
§ Mr. Edmund HarveyHas any similar proposal been made to the Japanese Government?
§ Mr. EdenI would like notice of that question. As my hon. Friend knows, the Japanese negotiations present other forms of difficulty.
§ Captain McEwenDoes this arrangement concern wounded prisoners of war?
§ Mr. EdenNo, Sir, it is with regard to able-bodied prisoners of war. But I would not like to say anything more for the moment.