§ Sir R. Glynasked the Secretary of State for War what is the total number of officers and other ranks of the British Army in Japanese hands; what information has so far been received affecting how many officers and other ranks; and what steps the War Office has taken to obtain confirmation of such information as has been received and to obtain further information?
§ Sir J. GriggI have no exact information regarding the number of officers and other ranks of the British Army who are prisoners of war in Japanese hands but on the basis partly of official notifications of capture and partly of unofficial notifications, including postcards received by the next-of-kin, 2,592 officers and 32,274 other ranks are recorded as prisoners of war. Over and above the notifications of capture, the only other information respecting Army prisoners of war received to date from the Japanese Government, 545W concerns the deaths in captivity of 910 officers and other ranks. Strong representations have been made through the Protecting Power regarding the failure of the Japanese Government to complete the notification of the names of prisoners of war and to give other essential information concerning them, but unfortunately so far without success.