§ 9. Mr. Fitzroy Macleanasked the Secretary of State for War how far the rations issued to British prisoners of war in Japanese hands during their imprisonment fell short of the scale of rations provided for under the Geneva Convention; and in how many cases such privation was suffered.
§ Mr. StracheyThe 1929 Geneva Prisoner of War Convention provides that the food ration of prisoners of war shall be equivalent in quantity and quality to that of the depot troops of the detaining Power. Details are not available either of the ration scale of the Japanese depot troops in the various countries in which British prisoners of war were held, or of the rations actually received by the British troops. It is probable that even if Japan had complied literally with the Convention in this respect, the resulting diet would have proved inadequate. Japan though not a party to the Convention, undertook in 1942 to observe its terms, mutatis mutandis, and, on a basis of reciprocity, to take account, as regards the feeding of prisoners, of their national and racial customs. In fact, malnutrition among British troops in Japanese hands was universal.
§ Mr. MacleanIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the American Government have granted to American ex-prisoners who were treated in this way a dollar a day for the period of their captivity, and will he consider using Japanese assets in this country to grant similar compensation to British ex-prisoners?
§ Mr. StracheyAs my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence stated some time ago, His Majesty's Government have done everything they can to help these ex-prisoners of war, but they do not consider that this kind of financial grant is practicable.