§ Lieut.-Commander Tufnellasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what progress has been made with the exchange and repatriation of incapacitated British and German prisoners of war?
§ Mr. ButlerAn agreement was concluded some time ago with the German Government through the good offices of the United States Government by which the forms of disablement or sickness requiring direct repatriation were denned and mixed medical commissions were constituted for the examination of the sick and wounded. After several suggestions for carrying out the repatration had been considered and in anticipation of the reports of the commissions, His Majesty's Government proposed as the most expeditious way of effecting repatriation the employment of a Red Cross vessel which should sail between an English and a French port in the Channel. This proposal having been rejected by the German Government, His Majesty's Government proposed as an alternative that the vessel should sail between a port in the United Kingdom other than a Channel port and either Marseilles or Lisbon. No reply has yet been received. In the meantime, while no lists have yet been communicated, I understand that a considerable number of British prisoners as well as enemy prisoners have been recommended for repatriation by the medical commissions. In view, however, of the present stage of naval and air operations, a safe conduct granted by the enemy for the vessel in question is an essential prerequisite of putting any such plan into effect. His Majesty's Government for their part are most anxious to effect the return of this category of prisoners to their own country at the earliest possible moment.