§ 7. Sir J. Lucasasked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been drawn to advertisements from a private source of which he has been told, appealing for funds to send parcels to prisoners of war in Chinese hands; and in view of the fact that the British Red Cross have already large stocks of parcels available for this purpose in Japan, and that there are no means of forwarding them, if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HeadYes, Sir. The British Red Cross Society has large stocks of parcels in Japan but, unfortunately, it is not possible for them to be sent on to our prisoners of war. In the circumstances, although this matter is outside my province, I doubt whether additional parcels are needed at this moment.
§ Sir J. LucasWhile thanking my right hon. Friend for his answer, may I ask if he will make it quite clear that the British Red Cross will do everything that can possibly be done, and that appeals to charity and pity are quite out of place?
§ Mr. HeadI am well aware of that fact and of the difficulties which are now being experienced by the International Red Cross Society.
§ Mr. ShinwellHas not the right hon. Gentleman in fact just accepted charity from the I.C.I.?
§ Mr. HeadIf the right hon. Gentleman had accepted a little charity I think that our recruiting figures might have been better in the past.
§ Mr. ShinwellIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that at the War Office, the Ministry of Defence and other Service Departments there are highly qualified officers of a much higher rank than the right hon. Gentleman ever earned or ever will earn?