§ Mr. RAWLINSONasked the Prime Minister whether it is possible to take steps to negotiate with the Central Powers an exchange of all prisoners taken in 1914?
Mr. HOPEThis proposal has been most carefully considered in conjunction with our Allies, and I regret to have to state that from several points of view it appears quite impracticable.
§ Mr. PETOasked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) whether, out of the sixty-five merchant service officers of over forty-five years of age who are eligible for repatriation and who are now interned at Ruhleben, only eleven have been repatriated under the agreement made at The Hague with the German Government; how many German civilians who are officers of the German mercantile marine have been repatriated in the same time; and what is the reason why the agreement arrived at is not promptly and completely carried out?
Mr. HOPEThe repatriation of British and German interned civilians over forty-five years of age, including merchant service officers and seamen, is not governed by The Hague Agreement, but by the agreement of 2nd January, 1917. Since that date, as I understand, forty-four British merchant service officers have 229W been repatriated from Ruhleben and other camps in Germany, as against twenty-two from various camps in this country. I may add that sixteen German merchant officers are being repatriated in the course of the next few days. The delay in the repatriation of this category of prisoners was caused, as the hon. Member is probably aware, by a difference of opinion with the German Government as to their status.
§ Mr. PETOasked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) whether many boys who were cadets and apprentices in the mercantile marine, now interned in Germany, are treated as ordinary seamen prisoners and mixed up with older men; whether many of these boys are employed in arduous labour in Germany; if so, whether this is contrary to the provision of Annexe 3 of The Hague Agreement with regard to the treatment of youthful prisoners of war; and, if not, whether there is any prospect of securing their treatment by the German Government in accordance with the agreement?
Mr. HOPEOn the 21st March the Netherlands Minister at Berlin was informed by telegram that His Majesty's Government had received information that cadets and apprentices of the British mercantile marine who were prisoners of war in Germany are, in many cases, being subjected to the same treatment as merchant seamen, notwithstanding the proposal made to the German Government in October last that Annexe 3 of The Hague Agreement should be put into force. The Minister was also asked to urge the German Government to give effect to our proposal with the least possible delay, if they are prepared to accept it. In consequence of the information lately received, a fresh remonstrance will be addressed to the German Government.