§ Mr. PETOasked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) whether he can state the number of certificated officers of the mercantile marine and the number of men repatriated since The Hague Agreement and also the number of other civilians; whether the proportion of officers in the mercantile marine repatriated is equal, having regard to the numbers interned in Germany, to the similar proportion of other civilians repatriated; whether he can state the number of German certificated officers of the German mercantile marine repatriated since The Hague Agreement; whether, before permitting the repatriation of British certificated mercantile marine officers, the German Government are waiting to see if we repatriate any of their mercantile marine officers; and whether his Department will at once see that members of our merchant service get at least the same 1861W chance of repatriation as other civilians interned for the same length of time and of the same age?
Mr. J. HOPEThe total number of British merchant officers and seamen and of other civilians repatriated since The Hague Agreement has been in process of execution is 188 and 185 respectively. The number of certificated officers is three. The proportion of merchant officers repatriated to the total interned is very low. With regard to the third point, I am informed that four German merchant service officers have been repatriated since The Hague Agreement. His Majesty's Government are prepared to carry out without delay the Agreement under which merchant service officers and seamen over the age of forty-five are specially entitled to repatriation, but the status of merchant seamen generally is the subject of discussion between the two Governments at the present moment, and further steps to secure the repatriation of all such seamen who are eligible under the Agreements in force are now being considered. I need hardly add that the services of the mercantile marine during the War are most deeply appreciated, and that every effort will be made to protect the interests of those members of it who have had the misfortune to fall into German hands.