§ Captain BLAIRasked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) if he will cause to be published the existing regulations, terms, and conditions relating to the exchange of prisoners of war in Germany; if adequate steps are now being taken to bring these Regulations to the knowledge of our men in Germany; and will he consider the advisability of giving in the Press the number of prisoners of war exchanged each day?
Mr. HOPEThe Regulations referred to have already been published as White Papers. They will, I hope, be superseded by the new agreement. According to information in the hands of the Prisoners of War Department, I am satisfied that our prisoners in Germany are aware of their right to transfer to a neutral country or repatriation under The Hague Agreement of 1917, copies of which have been forwarded to the Netherlands Legation at Berlin for circulation in prisoners' camps. With regard to the last part of the question, the War Office already periodically publish the names of prisoners repatriated or transferred to neutral countries, and will doubtless continue this practice should the new agreement take effect.