§ 11. Mr. Bishopasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when the former British prisoners of war and civilian internees in Japan may expect to receive a distribution of the proceeds of Japanese assets frozen in ex-enemy and neutral countries; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Minister of State (Mr. Selwyn Lloyd)The International Committee of the Red Cross, which is the body to whom Japan should transfer its assets or their equivalent, in former neutral and ex-enemy territories under Article 16 of the Japanese Peace Treaty, made proposals to the Japanese Government in November, 1953, with a view to the early settlement of this question. This approach has been supported by Her Majesty's Government and the Netherlands, Pakistan and United States Governments. A reply is awaited from the Japanese Government.
It should be noted that the distribution of assets envisaged in the Treaty will include prisoners of war of Japan, but not civilian internees.