§ Sir WILLIAM BULLasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the advisability of offering a reward of 500 marks, or any other sum thought suitable, to anyone in Germany and the other enemy countries who afforded information that led to the discovery and recovery of any prisoner of war still in enemy countries after a given date, the notice of this reward to be posted in every enemy village?
Captain GUESTI would refer my right hon. Friend to the statement made in reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Twickenhan on 13th February, in which it was mentioned that the question of offering a reward had been discussed and that it was considered most inadvisable at present, and to be adopted, if at all, only in the last resort.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Secretary of State for War whether any news has been received since his last statement in February of the 64,800 British prisoners whose fate is uncertain; what has been the result of the inquiries in Germany; and whether the list of the non-repatriated prisoners of war has been presented to the German Government, and with what result?
Captain GUESTThe figure of 64,800 referred to does not represent prisoners unaccounted for, but "missing," who have not been accepted as prisoners, and who have not yet been presumed to be dead. There is no material difference in the number at present. The result of the search by motor ambulance parties was to find about 100 prisoners, and I do not think there are many more left alive in Germany. These men were all known to be prisoners. The residue list has been sent to the military authorities in France for the Armistice Commission to present to that German Government.