§ 17. Mr. A. Hendersonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps he proposes to take to ensure the dispatch of letters and parcels to and from British prisoners of war in Korea and China now that the Chinese Government has announced its adherence to the Geneva Convention of 1949.
§ 18. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if Her Majesty's Government have been officially informed that the Peking Government intend to ratify the Geneva Convention on war prisoners; whether agreement has now been reached to refer the war prisoners problem to a protective Power; and whether the United Nations have now received assent from a protective Power to act in this capacity.
§ 19. Mr. Dribergasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in view of the recent decision by the Chinese Government to adhere to the Geneva Convention of 1949, what representations he has received from the Chinese Government on this matter; and if, in view of this decision, he will renew his efforts to establish official communication with any British prisoners of war who may be in Chinese or in North Korean hands and to secure their early repatriation.
§ Mr. NuttingThe Chinese Legation at Berne have informed the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the Chinese Government has decided, subject to certain reservations, to recognise the four 1949 Conventions for the Protection of War Victims. The former Government of China signed these Conventions and it appears that the present Government intends to accede to the Conventions with certain reservations.
As regards the effect of the Chinese decision on British prisoners of war, the House will recall that the Chinese Government has so far maintained that no United Nations prisoners of war are detained in China and that questions, referring to the custody of United Nations' prisoners are the sole concern of the North Korean authorities. There would, therefore, appear to be no function which a protecting Power could perform in China. Her Majesty's Government are, however, taking steps to clarify the position.
As regards the repatriation of United Nations' prisoners of war, the House is aware that this matter is under discussion between the armistice negotiators at Panmunjom.
§ Mr. HendersonIs it not a fact that a great majority of the families of the British prisoners of war concerned have not been allowed either to write to the members of their families or to receive communications from them? Would he 13 not agree that this is an extremely urgent matter in view of the fact that many of these prisoners of war have been prisoners for nearly two years, and would not the Government treat this as a matter of urgency and invite the Indian Government to act as the protecting Power in this matter?
§ Mr. NuttingAs I have already explained to the right hon. and learned Gentleman, no useful purpose would be served, so it appears, by appointing a protecting Power in China because, so far, the Chinese have maintained that the exchange of prisoners of war is solely a matter for the North Korean authorities; but since it appears there is some slight chance, in this new attitude by the Chinese Government towards the Geneva Convention, of a modification of their previous attitude in the matter, we are taking steps to clarify the position and to find out whether they can use their good offices with the North Korean authorities to appoint a protecting Power.
§ Mr. SorensenMay I take it from the hon. Gentleman's statement that he views this decision on the part of the Peking Government to ratify this Convention as an encouraging step forward? If so, can he say when he will be able to make an announcement with a view to utilising this new position?
§ Mr. NuttingI should prefer at the moment to make no comment on this matter—because various interpretations can be placed on this move by the Chinese Government—until we have clarified the position.