§ 7. Mr. Stokesasked the Secretary of State for War how many German merchant seamen are still detained as prisoners of war in this country; and how many of them were brought from Canada to this country in June, 1946, and promised immediate repatriation.
§ Mr. Bellenger1,852 German merchant seamen are at present held in this country, including 373 who were brought from Canada in June. 1,100 are being repatriated in December and the rest in 966 January and February No promise of immediate repatriation was made to the men brought from Canada.
§ Mr. StokesIs my right hon Friend aware that some of these men are really aliens and not Germans at all, and if I give him particulars will he give me an assurance that the prisoner of war who communicated with me will not be punished for doing so, as has happened before?
§ Mr. BellengerI think my hon. Friend can be assured that we are not too hard on prisoners of war in general, whether they write to my hon. Friend or not.