§ Mr. Hutchinsonasked the Secretary of State for War whether His Majesty's Government have any information about the diet provided by the Japanese Government to prisoners of war in their hands; and what steps are being taken to remedy any deficiencies in that diet?
§ Sir J. GriggThe reports received from the Protecting Power and the International Red Cross Committee regarding conditions in camps in Japan, Korea, Shanghai and Hong Kong indicate that prisoners generally are probably receiving a ration not less than that applicable to Japanese depot troops; it consists generally of polished rice with a little flour, vegetables, fish and sometimes a little meat; fruit is sometimes available in Japan and rations in Shanghai have often been supplemented from local supplies by the efforts of local friends or the International Red Cross Committee delegate. But the evidence leaves no room for doubt that these rations are inadequate to maintain our prisoners over a long period in reasonable health, and the Japanese Government have been pressed to remedy its deficiencies in energy value, animal protein fat, calcium and vitamins. In particular they have been asked to supplement the diet with soya beans (which contain practically all the deficient properties), but they have refused owing to alleged lack 1233W of supplies. They have also been urged to issue unpolished rice instead of polished rice, but they claim that the bulk of the available rice is already polished; some rice bran has, however, been issued by them.
So much for the areas about which we have definite reports, but more than three-quarters of the prisoners held by the Japanese are in areas south of Hong Kong and in these areas the Japanese Government has hitherto banned all visits to the camps by independent witnesses, except for one small camp in Indo-China. His Majesty's Government have protested against this failure to honour the provisions of the Prisoners of War Convention which the Japanese have undertaken to observe, but their protest has hitherto been unavailing. Reports as to conditions in Siam, Malaya, Burma and the Dutch East Indies are lacking. We have, however, received some information, which is regarded as reliable, and this indicates beyond reasonable doubt that the provision of food in these areas almost invariably falls short of the standard which the Prisoners of War Convention requires, and, as I have already explained, this standard on the Japanese basis over a long period is inadequate for our prisoners. The situation in the Southern area is, therefore, serious.
His Majesty's Government are profoundly dissatisfied with the actions and attitude of the Japanese Government in this matter, and all possible means are taken to represent their views to the Japanese Government. Such relief measures as are open to His Majesty's Government have been taken. The House is aware that the maximum use of such space as was available on Japanese ships returning to Japanese controlled territories with exchanged diplomatic and civilian personnel has been made to carry relief supplies consisting largely of food; and full use will be made of any future opportunity. In addition, funds have been made available by the British Red Cross, with the support of His Majesty's Government, to make local purchases in areas where this can be arranged. Here again, the measure of possible relief is largely dependent on the willingness of the Japanese authorities, first to make supplies available under reasonable conditions, and secondly to facilitate the distribution of these supplies to and in the camps.
1234WThe problem of relief measures has the constant attention of His Majesty's Government and it was with their cordial approval that, at the beginning of last month, the British Red Cross despatched, at the invitation of the American Red Cross, a strong Mission to Washington. This Mission has also visited the Canadian Red Cross in Canada. The utmost spirit of co-operation has marked the proceedings of the subsequent conferences in which the Canadian Red Cross has also been represented. The three Red Cross Societies primarily concerned in planning relief for the Far East are, therefore, exploring together every possible channel through which the Japanese Government might be influenced to permit relief stores to enter Japanese controlled territories. The Red Cross Societies concerned are ready immediately to take full advantage of any opportunity that offers.
The House may rest assured that the situation of our men in the Far East is a constant anxiety to the Government; but I would repeat that we can, unfortunately, do little so long as the Japanese Government refuse the essential facilities to the International Red Cross Committee.