§ 27. Mr. Fernyhoughasked the Secretary of State for War if he will make a statement to the House with regard to the appeal which was broadcast over the camp radio at German P.O.W. Officers Camp 18, Featherstone Camp, Halt-whistle, Northumberland, some few weeks ago, asking for officers and armourers with technical experience of weapons and motorised vehicles in winter campaigns in the East as advisers in winter exercises.
§ Mr. ShinwellWe must avail ourselves of any technical experience which would conduce to the efficiency of the Army. For this reason, it was considered desirable, in connection with a forthcoming routine indoor exercise, to obtain information about campaigning in conditions of extreme cold from any sources readily available, including any prisoners of war with the relevant technical knowledge and experience.
§ Mr. FernyhoughDoes not the Minister agree that it is a breach of international law to use these prisoners for these purposes, and does he not think that there is something reprehensible and very disagreeable in ex-Nazi officers training British soldiers, and is there not a danger that they may train our soldiers to commit the same foul deeds in Eastern territories of which they were guilty?
§ Mr. ShinwellI am not aware that it contravenes international law to ask prisoners of war for any technical information which they can furnish. At any rate, we are doing it.