HC Deb 28 November 1951 vol 494 cc1497-9
21. Mr. S. O. Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reasons have been given by the United Nations Command for the ban imposed by them and continued since last February forbidding Press correspondents from freely interviewing prisoners of war released by North Koreans.

Mr. Nutting

The Press is not denied access to released prisoners of war, but their questions must be confined to topics whose disclosure would not endanger the security of the United Nations forces. For this reason a security officer is present during these interviews.

Mr. Davies

Is not the hon. Gentleman aware, and have these facts not been presented to his notice, that Press correspondents in the Far East, both British and of other nationalities, have protested most vigorously, not merely against the ban imposed by the censorship there, but on the tendentious and deliberately misleading reports which come from the Command in Korea?

Mr. Nutting

I must most emphatically repudiate that statement and allegation of the hon. Gentleman. I have nothing whatever to add to my own reply, in which I have sought to inform the hon. Gentleman—for he has been grievously and grossly misinformed on this subject—that the Press has not been denied access to released prisoners of war.

Mr. Bernard Braine

Has any information on the condition of British prisoners of war still in Korean hands been volunteered to his Department by those British subjects, including Mrs. Felton, who have freely visited North Korea?

Mr. Nutting

That is another question.

22. Mr. S. O. Davies

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many prisoners of war in North Korea it is estimated by the United Nations Command were killed and wounded on the five occasions their camps were bombed by United Nations Air Forces between February and October this year and if he will publish the joint protest made last month by 1,362 British, American and other prisoners of war against this bombing.

Mr. Nutting

The North Koreans do not observe the Geneva Prisoners-of-War Convention and have not informed the United Nations Command where any of their prisoner-of-war camps are located. It is therefore impossible for the United Nations Command to know whether any of their aircraft have made attacks in the area of prisoner-of-war camps, and I am consequently not in a position to say what casualties, if any, have been caused. I have seen a Press report of a statement on the subject alleged to have been made by United Nations prisoners of war. His Majesty's Government have no intention of publishing this report.

Mr. Davies

Is not the matter contained in the Question sufficiently important for our own Foreign Office to break through the censorship and to take every possible step to stop these barbarities that are being practised there, under the name of the United Nations? [HON. MEMBERS: "Withdraw."] I shall certainly not withdraw.

Mr. Nutting

I do not accept for one minute the allegation by the hon. Member that barbarities have taken place at the instigation or under the auspices of the United Nations Command. On the Question which he put to me, I would inform him that it is not customary for His Majesty's Government to publish or republish statements which have appeared in the Press.

Mr. Martin Lindsay

In view of the prejudice implied in this Question, does not my hon. Friend agree that in war bombs unfortunately often fall upon places where they are not intended, in spite of all possible care which can be used to prevent it?

Mr. Nutting

Yes, Sir, I most certainly do agree with my hon. Friend. It is for that reason all the more regrettable that the North Koreans do not observe the Geneva Prisoners-of-War Convention and inform us where their prisoner-of-war camps are located.