§ Sir A. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will ask the American Red Cross to inquire into the conditions at Oflag VII C/H in Germany, as in a letter, dated 24th September, an officer, taken prisoner on the 24th May and now in this camp, stated that he had received no parcels, that he had neither coat, shoes nor underclothing, and it was very cold?
§ Mr. EdenBoth the Protecting Power, the United States of America, and the International Red Cross have been asked to inquire into conditions at Oflag VII Camp in Germany. A telegram from the American Embassy in Berlin dated 30th October states that between 13th and 19th October 1,838 parcels of food, clothes and books had been received by British prisoners of war in this camp. The War 1613W Organisation of the British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John are despatching quantities of clothing to all camps in Germany in which British prisoners of war are retained. The difficulties which interrupted the flow of parcels of all kinds to British prisoners in Germany during the past summer were described by my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Kensington, South (Sir W. Davison), on Tuesday last, but recent reports show that parcels are now reaching the prison camps in increasing numbers. My hon. and gallant Friend may rest assured that I shall keep this matter under constant review.
§ Sir A. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a specimen day's menu of food in a British prisoners' camp in Germany is: 7.30 a.m. black coffee, 11 a.m. cabbage soup and potatoes, 4.30 p.m. coffee, potatoes, 1¼ square inch of bread and one square inch of butter; and whether he will make representations through the American Embassy in Berlin that this is insufficient?
§ Mr. EdenI am aware of the statement to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers, but the latest information shows that additions have been made to the daily issue. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that rations are below the scale of those issued to German depot troops, and the United States Embassy has been asked on several occasions to make strong representations to the German authorities.