§ 17. Major Beamishasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the latest estimate of the number of British sick or wounded prisoners still in enemy hands in the Far East; what prospect there is of these men being repatriated; and what is the latest position with regard to the continued refusal of the North Korean Government to allow the Red Cross facilities in their territory.
§ Mr. NuttingThe inquiries which my right hon. and learned Friend undertook to make on 27th April are in progress, but I am not yet in a position to give the House any definite information. The North Korean authorities have not yet allowed representatives of the International Red Cross to have access to prison camps in their territory.
§ Major BeamishDoes my hon. Friend agree that the refusal of the North Korean and Chinese Governments to allow the Red Cross access to their territories, coupled with the apparent retention of a considerable number of sick and wounded United Nations prisoners, are factors which are very hard indeed to square completely with Communist protestations of their good faith?
§ Mr. NuttingI entirely agree with my hon. and gallant Friend. As to the alleged retention of sick and wounded prisoners of war, there has been a statement that 375 have been kept back. In the absence of confirmation, as a result of the inquiries that I am making in Tokyo and in Washington, I would rather not say anything further about the matter at the moment to avoid causing undue and, I hope, unnecessary fear and anxiety to the relatives of British prisoners of war and others involved.