§ 85. Mr. Stokesasked the Secretary of State for War whether he can yet make any statement on the results of his investigation into the allegation of starvation in prisoner-of-war camps in Belgium, which resulted in numbers of men being shipped to this country unfit for work, due to malnutrition; and what action has been taken against those responsible.
§ The Financial Secretary to the War Office (Mr. Bellenger)I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Eastern Surrey (Mr. Astor) on 2nd July.
§ Mr. StokesYes, but that reply does not answer this Question at all; I have made the closest study of it, and must ask my hon. Friend whether he is aware that that reply is wrong. Is he aware that quite recently I was at a camp at which several hundred prisoners of war arrived from Belgian camps in a dire state of starvation, yet that report given to the House states that all is well? Can he explain how it is that people arrive starving if they were all right on the other side?
§ Mr. BellengerAs my hon. Friend is to raise the matter on the Adjournment, perhaps we might continue the discussion then.
§ Mr. EdenMay I also remind the Minister that I have more than once asked the Government that. whatever the result of these investigations, they should all be made fully public? Nothing can be so harmful as when allegations are made and we do not know the answer to them.
§ Mr. BellengerIn the statement to which I referred in my answer I made a very full explanation. On the whole it was a fair one, and was accepted by those who visited the camps. If the right hon. Gentleman will only refer to "The Times," he will find a very interesting letter saying that the report I made was a fair one.
§ Mr. StokesI beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter again tonight.