§ 33. Mr. Dribergasked the Secretary of State for War if he will investigate the reasons for the continued detention at Up Park Internment Camp, Kingston, Jamaica, of 187 Heinrich Schreiber, a 60 years old German merchant seaman, formerly domiciled in Chile, who has been interned ever since his capture on 13th March, 1940; and if, in view of the fact that the State Department of Chile have no objection to his return there, he will order this man's immediate release, and grant facilities for him to return to his family in Chile.
§ Mr. BellengerPermission was granted on 17th January for this merchant seaman to be released locally in Jamaica, as soon as arrangements have been completed for his return to Chile.
§ Mr. DribergCould my right hon. Friend say why this apparently quite harmless elderly man has been detained for seven whole years, and are there any others in like case in the same camp?
§ Mr. BellengerMy hon. Friend's Question relates to this individual. I could not answer the second part of his supplementary 188 question without further inquiry. This seaman was taken prisoner in the ordinary course of war operations, and, therefore, we had to look after him. He does not want to go back to Germany; he wants to go back to Chile, and we are doing all we can to expedite his departure.