§ 10. Mr. Stokesasked the Secretary of State for War to whom a prisoner of war detained in this country, can appeal if he is not satisfied with the way in which complaints made to the commandant of the camp have been dealt with.
§ Mr. BellengerA complaint may be made by any prisoner of war under Article 42 of the Geneva Convention. Such complaints are to be addressed to the commandant of the prisoner of war camp who is obliged to forward them to the War Office with such comments as he considers necessary.
§ Mr. StokesMay I ask my right hon. Friend whether he thinks this arrangement reasonable? Is he aware that we find it necessary to allow persons serving in our own Armed Forces to refer to Members of Parliament, and surely it is doubly necessary that prisoners of war should be allowed to do likewise?
§ Mr. BellengerI do not think that the analogy is quite correct. Prisoners of war are protected under certain conventions, and these international agreements certainly do protect German prisoners of war in this country.
§ Mr. StokesIs my right hon. Friend aware that the Geneva Convention no longer functions, that we are no longer at war with Germany because there is no Government with which to be at war, and, therefore, we are at peace with Germany, so what about it?
§ Mr. BellengerThat was not quite the point raised by my hon. Friend in his Question. I think that I can say to the House generally that prisoners of war in this country have been very fairly treated, and they admit it.
§ Mr. StephenIf the commandant of a camp does not pass on complaints, what happens?
§ Mr. BellengerHe must do so, and it any hon. Member knows of any case where that is not being done, and will bring it to my notice, I will attend to it.
§ Mr. Michael FootCan my right hon. Friend give a reason why there is any objection to prisoners of war writing to Members of Parliament? Does not the right hon. Gentleman's last answer make it all the more necessary that there should be some independent means of discovering what is going on?
§ Mr. BellengerI personally have no objection, but there are other considerations in this connection. There are certain undesirable elements in this country who would be glad to get in touch with German prisoners.
§ Mr. Benn LevyCan my right hon. Friend say what channels are open to him to find out whether a local commandant does or does not forward any complaints of prisoners of war?
§ Mr. BellengerIn addition to other safeguards, there are visitors under the Geneva Convention constantly visiting these camps, and they would soon let us know if such were the case.