§ 89. Mr. Dribergasked the Secretary of State for War what progress has been made in establishing communication with Service men formerly reported missing in Korea and later unofficially reported to have been taken prisoner; how many of these are now officially regarded as prisoners-of-war; whether their relatives have all been notified; how soon he hopes to be able to start negotiations for an exchange of prisoners; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. StracheyThe position regarding the establishment of communication with and the possibility of exchanging British206W prisoners-of-war in North Korea remains as stated in my reply of 3rd April. It has not yet been possible to set up official channels of communication. Only one prisoner who was reported by four returned prisoners is officially regarded as a prisoner-of-war. As I said in my reply to the hon. Member for Colchester (Mr. Alport) on 19th April, next-of-kin are informed immediately the names of personnel believed to be prisoners are obtained either from unofficial sources or from the questioning of returned prisoners-of-war.
The International Red Cross Committee, which I should like to emphasise is an entirely neutral and independent organisation, has made repeated attempts to enter North Korea, but permission to do so has been refused. The Soviet and Chinese Governments have previously informed the International Red Cross Committee that they do not feel able to interfere with the sovereign decision of the North Korean Government in this respect. However, the President of the International Red Cross Committee has announced that he was recently permitted to visit Peking, where he saw the Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, and had lengthy discussions with the President of the Chinese Red Cross Society. In these discussions the Chinese Red Cross Society were asked whether, as an interim measure, while the International Red Cross Committee are unable to carry out their traditional duties in North Korea, they would act on the Committee's behalf. They were particularly requested to distribute medical supplies to United Nations prisoners-of-war and others, to provide assistance in the transmission of correspondence and to assist in the transport of food parcels to United Nations prisoners-of-war. The President of the International Red Cross Committee has emphasised that his talks with the Chinese Red Cross were most satisfactory. No further details are yet available.