§ VISCOUNT DEVONPORT had the following Question on the Paper—
§ To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are aware that the Central Prisoners of War Committee has received notice from the authorities that no further parcels for prisoners of war in Germany, Austria, or Holland can be accepted for transmission at present; what is the reason for this cessation; whether it is expected to be enduring; and, if so, what steps are in contemplation to meet the situation.
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The noble Viscount said: My Lords, I have placed this Question on the Paper in consequence of a circular letter from the Central Prisoners of War Committee which has been sent to all Regimental Care Committees, local associations, and authorised firms; that is to say, to all of those who are empowered and authorised to distribute parcels to prisoners abroad. I will quote the letter. It is dated April 21, and runs—
The Central Prisoners of War Committee has received notice from the authorities that no further parcels for prisoners of war in Germany, Austria, or Holland can be accepted for transmission at present. It is impossible to say when
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the service will be resumed. Associations are advised to pack as usual for the next week and to store the parcels at their own premises, so as to have a good supply in hand when the postal service is resumed. Immediate information will be sent as soon as we receive news of the reopening of the service.
The first fact which emerges from this letter is that the transmission is stopped; the second is that it is uncertain when transmission will be resumed. Without making any speech on the matter, I think I am entitled to say what is in the minds of all of us—namely, that any interference with the transmission of parcels would be most serious to the prisoners, because we know full well, from evidence that has been given in this House and elsewhere, that in the main they are entirely dependent upon the parcels. I shall be glad, therefore, of any information as to the actual situation which the noble Lord can give me.
§ THE ASSISTANT UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (LORD NEWTON)My Lords, the noble Viscount may be perfectly satisfied that the authorities absolutely realise the necessity for the continuance of this service. It is true that the notice was given, but it was given only in consequence of the fact that there was an enormous accumulation of parcels at the Central Post Office, and until that accumulation had been dealt with it was not considered advisable to continue packing. The service is, about to restart immediately, and will be continued. At the same time I must warn the noble Viscount and everybody else concerned that absolute regularity in the service cannot be guaranteed.
THE EARL OF SANDWICHPerhaps your Lordships will allow me, as chairman of the Central Prisoners of War Committee, to say a few words in regard to this question. It is perfectly true that we had stopped packing since last Wednesday, but we have now received instructions from the Post Office which will enable us to start again on Thursday. I am certain that this will relieve your Lordships' minds. As Lord Devonport said, the Care Committees in the country have not actually stopped packing, so that their stores have been accumulating for the past week, and by the tune Thursday comes round they will resume their normal packing. As regards the question of shipping, I think there is every hope that in order to meet the very large increase in the number of 922 prisoners and enable us to send a sufficient quantity of food we shall have available the shipping required.
Perhaps your Lordships would like me to mention what the Central Committee has been doing in order to meet the great emergency caused by the increase in the number of prisoners. As some of your Lordships may know, we have a centre in Rotterdam to which we send from time to time supplies in large quantities. Since the offensive, we have been sending emergency supplies in addition to the ordinary parcels addressed to men in individual camps, and trying to work up—of course, the facilities owing to the stoppage have not allowed this yet—to a maximum of 3,000 parcels per day. These parcels are somewhat different from the ordinary standard parcel. They contain enough concentrated food-stuffs to feed two men for a week, instead of the ordinary parcel sent three times in a fortnight. Thus some 36,000 men can be kept going at that rate. The system in Holland is that the Help Committees in German camps indent for supplies according to the number of prisoners they receive from time to time, to meet the demand before we can send addressed parcels from this country. In addition to this, we have increased the bread supplies from the two centres of Copenhagen and Berne, and are also sending—some have already gone—100 tons of biscuits from Huntley and Palmer's to meet the particular emergency. The War Office has given us permission to increase the parcel units in camps from 12,000 to 24,000, and with regard to clothing also to send out 30,000 units of underclothing for men and 1,000 units for officers. I thought that your Lordships would like to know those facts to show what has been done to help in this great emergency, and I think you may rest satisfied that everything possible will be done to the full limits of the shipping available to keep our men supplied with these parcels, and also with bread and clothing.
§ LORD BERESFORDAs president of two Committees, may I ask the reason—is it a question of tonnage or Post Office difficulties?—why this large number of parcels has accumulated.
§ LORD NEWTONI prefer that the noble Lord should address that question to the representative of the Admiralty. It is really more a question for them to answer than it is for me.