§ Lieutenant-Colonel Lord HENRY CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the Secretary of State for War how many British prisoners of war in all theatres and belonging to all Services are included in the total of 64,800 stated by the Secretary of State to be still missing?
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§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe figure 64,800 refers to missing men, who have not been reported prisoners and whose death has not yet been presumed. It is an estimate, and is subject to continual alteration as information comes to hand showing the fate of the men in question. The only prisoners of war included in the total would be a few men captured about the time of the Armistice in respect of whom no prisoner of war report had been received before their release and return.
Sir F. HALLasked the Secretary of State for War what was the number of prisoners of war in German hands unaccounted for before the recent investigation into the matter on the spot was undertaken; the number that have since been traced as the result of the special inquiries that have been put in hand; the number still missing; and what practical steps beyond giving general warnings have been taken to convince the German Government that it is intended to call for the effective punishment of those known to have been concerned in the ill-treatment and neglect of British prisoners?
Captain GUESTThe number amounted to about 6,000, but as a result of information since received from various sources, and the finding of about eighty by search parties, this has been reduced to 2,900. As regards the last part of the question, the whole matter is being considered by a Sub-committee of the Peace Conference in Paris.