§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYMy Lords, as my noble friend Lord Gainford is not able to be in his place to-day, he has asked me to put on his behalf the Question standing in his name—
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are able to make any statement in regard to agreements relating to prisoners of war concluded between the British and German delegates who recently met at The Hague.
I think my noble friend opposite has not yet had an opportunity of making a statement on this subject to your Lordships and the country. I need not tell him that his statement is looked forward to with the most acute interest in many quarters. The subject-matter touches the hearts of a great number of people, and the relatives of those primarily interested are so deeply concerned that anything he says will be regarded with the greatest attention. I do not know whether my noble friend is able to make a full statement to-day, but any information he can give will be most welcome.
§ THE ASSISTANT UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD NEWTON)My Lords, although these agreements were signed by the British and German delegates as far back as July 2, up to now we have failed to elicit any reply from the German Government 39 as to whether these agreements have been ratified or not, and this in spite of the fact that we have made at least three inquires in respect of this particular matter. What the reasons for this delay can be I am utterly at a loss to imagine. If the agreements redounded only to the advantage of one side one could understand the delay, but as the advantages are reciprocal it is, I repeat, quite incomprehensible that the reply has not arrived. All that I can say to my noble friend on this occasion is that the delegates undertake that, pending ratification, the agreements should be carried out as far as possible. As an instance of what we are doing, I may mention that one of the agreements related to the remitting of punishments inflicted upon military and civilian prisoners of war, and it was mutually agreed that all these punishments should terminate by a given date. In pursuance of this undertaking His Majesty's Government thought it only right at once to liberate—it has not yet been done, but it will be done very shortly—all German military and civilian prisoners who are undergoing punishment. These men will be released, subject, of course, to the fact that if the German Government fail to ratify the agreement their punishments will be resumed and they will return to their cells. I do not like to give any further details with regard to the agreements in view of what I have already stated. I can only assure my noble friend that no one regrets more than I do the fact that I am unable at the present moment to make a full statement, but if he will leave the Question on the Paper I hope the day will soon arrive when I shall be able to give complete information regarding our proceedings and the agreements arrived at.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYI need not say that we shall take care that a farther Question is put to my noble friend when he is in a position to answer it. But could the noble Lord inform the House of the different categories of subjects which were dealt with in the negotiations, because he said that the agreements were all to be carried out pending ratification. It might be of use to the relatives to know what subjects were dealt with in the agreements. If the noble Lord thinks it premature to say anything upon that, I would not, of course, press him. He has told us that all punishments inflicted on officers and men on either side are to be remitted at once pending ratification. 40 That will be an immense relief to a great number of persons in this country. But I would suggest to him that pending ratification there should be no delay on our side. I noticed that my noble friend said that these releases had not yet taken place but would take place shortly. I think he came back from abroad some three weeks ago.
§ LORD NEWTONA fortnight ago.
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYI must say I think His Majesty's Government—and here I address myself to the noble Earl the Leader of the House—ought to give an order that these agreements should be carried out at once on our part; otherwise all this time we should have no reason to complain if the Germans did not liberate the British prisoners in Germany. My correspondence is very large on this subject. The unfortunate relatives write to me every day asking whether nothing can be done, and stating that their brother, or their son, or other near relation, is in prison in Germany undergoing hard labour as a reprisal for something which is alleged to have been done by the British Government. If this could be brought to an end by a stroke of the pen on the part of His Majesty's Government, there ought to be no delay whatever on our side. Let us be quite clear that we have carried out our part of the bargain, and we should then be in a position to insist that the German Government should do the same.
§ LORD NEWTONHis Majesty's Government are fulfilling their part of the bargain—
§ THE MARQUESS OF SALISBURYBut the noble Lord stated that the German prisoners in our hands had not yet been liberated from confinement, although it would be done very shortly.
§ LORD NEWTONThey have not yet been liberated because the date for doing so has not yet arrived. It is not advisable, for obvious reasons, to mention the date. But my noble friend may be perfectly certain that His Majesty's Government have not the smallest intention of evading either this undertaking or any other. I am only too anxious, as I said before, to make a statement, but I have been directed not to make a full statement until the ratification has taken place; and the sooner I am in a position to do so, the better I shall be pleased.