HC Deb 11 June 1951 vol 488 cc162-3W
69. Mr. Sandys

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what information he has as to whether 100 officers and men held as prisoners in Chinese hands are held as prisoners of the Peking Government or of the North Korean authorities, and whether they are being accorded the rights of prisoners of war in accordance with the Geneva Convention; and what action His Majesty's representative in Peking has taken to obtain information regarding their whereabouts.

Mr. Younger

As stated by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for War on the 29th May, discussions are proceeding between the International Red Cross Committee and the Chinese Red Cross Society. It is not felt that the interests of prisoners-of-war would be advanced by any protests made by His Majesty's Government at this stage.

Since the North Korean authorities have not allowed the International Red Cross Committee to send delegates into their territory the whereabouts of our prisoners of war are not known, but it now appears possible that the number may be greater than the 100 officers and men referred to by the right hon. Member for Streatham; nor is it known what rights are being accorded to them.

His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires has not addressed any inquiry to the Chinese Government on the whereabouts of our prisoners of war since they have maintained throughout that such matters are the sole concern of the North Korean authorities.

Lieut.-Commander Braithwaite

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent His Majesty's representative in Pekin has proper facilities of access to British prisoners of war in Chinese hands.

Mr. Younger

His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Peking has no facilities whatever for visiting British prisoners of war. The whereabouts of our prisoners of war are not known. The Chinese Government maintain that United Nations prisoners of war taken in the Korean fighting are solely the concern of the North Koreans. The North Korean authorities have refused to permit the International Red Cross Committee to send a delegation into their territory to visit prisoners of war, and there is no likelihood of their allowing a representative of the British Embassy in Peking to do so.