Did you mean Prisoners far speaker:Mr Christopher Mayhew?
Mr Christopher Mayhew: I wish to raise the whole question of the Chinese and North Korean prisoners-of-war. No one questions the importance of this subject, for we see constantly in the newspapers reports of disorders in the camps in which British soldiers are now involved, and this is the last remaining issue between the parties in the negotiations for a truce in Korea. It is true that the recent statement of the...
Mr Christopher Mayhew: I asked the Foreign Secretary on 20th May if he will make a statement on the policy of United Nations with respect to the political re-education of Chinese and North Korean prisoners. His hon. Friend the Joint Under-Secretary of State replied: The United Nations Command provide information and educational material to prisoner-of-war camps under their control for the voluntary use of...
Mr Christopher Mayhew: ...is serious anxiety on this subject not only on these benches but among wide sections of the public in this country. I do not think any of us are challenging that it would be inhuman to send back prisoners who have genuine grounds for fearing reprisals when they return home. Neither do we challenge the desire of the United States to reach a truce. Nor are we in any way casting stones at the...
Mr Christopher Mayhew: While accepting what the Minister has said in interpreting his reply, in view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Government's general attitude on this question of prisoners of war. I beg to give notice that I shall raise it on the Adjournment.
Mr Christopher Mayhew: ...of State for Foreign Affairs how far the services of Mr. J. D. Kingsley and Sir Arthur Rucker are being used by the United Nations in connection with the repatriation of Korean and Chinese prisoners of war.
Mr Christopher Mayhew: Is the Minister not aware that these two gentlemen safely repatriated scores of thousands of Polish and Yugoslav displaced persons after the war, many of whom were reluctant to go, and would not their great experience and advice be useful for resolving the deadlock over the prisoners?
Mr Christopher Mayhew: asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reports reach Chinese and North Korean prisoners of war about conditions in their home countries; and from what sources.
Mr Christopher Mayhew: The House is clearly united that there must be no question at all of the forcible repatriation of prisoners of war, but since after nine months or so the issues have been narrowed from quite important ones to a single point, may I put this to the Foreign Secretary? *See correction, 8th May, col. 571 We have had considerable experience of this problem in connection with the Polish displaced...
Mr Christopher Mayhew: According to the information at present available, the only countries in which undischarged German prisoners of war remain in great numbers are the Soviet Union and Poland. His Majesty's Government together with the Governments of France and the United States delivered Notes to the Soviet Government on this subject on 3rd January and 15th March, 1949. Representations have also been made by...
Mr Christopher Mayhew: No reply has yet been received from the Soviet Government to His Majesty's Government's Note of 15th March about the retention of German prisoners of war in the Soviet Union, in which this suggestion was contained.
Mr Christopher Mayhew: It has not proved feasible to introduce a scheme for leave to Germany for German ex-prisoners of war who are, in any case, due to return to that country by the end of this year, but should any German ex-prisoners of war be offered employment in this country after the end of 1948 and accept such an offer, they will be given the opportunity of a visit to Germany before the end of this year.
Mr Christopher Mayhew: My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension. There are no persons detained as prisoners of war in Germany. There are, however, a number of former prisoners of war who are detained by the Allied Control Commission for other reasons.
Mr Christopher Mayhew: ...wide shortage of deep sea shipping, aggravated by the reduction of His Majesty's Forces abroad, has compelled us, with the greatest regret, to reduce considerably the rate of repatriation of German prisoners of war from the Middle East. This decision, however, in no way alters our determination to repatriate all German prisoners of war before the end of 1948. For the repatriation of...
Mr Christopher Mayhew: The rate of repatriation of German prisoners of war in British hands has to be determined in relation to the essential work being carried out by prisoners of war both in the United Kingdom and the Middle East, the availability of transport, and not least the capacity of Germany to absorb returning prisoners of war without dislocation. His Majesty's Government would be very glad to in crease...
Mr Christopher Mayhew: ...to 4th August in order to enable the defence to prepare and shorten the remainder of their case. Although none of the Japanese whose presence has been requested at the trial, and who are held as prisoners of war by the Soviet authorities, has so far appeared, I understand that the Tribunal knows of no actual refusal by the Soviet authorities to return the prisoners.
Mr Christopher Mayhew: It was agreed in Moscow that all German prisoners-of-war located in the territory of the Allied Powers and in all other territories will be returned to Germany by the end of 1948. No figures were specified in this decision, but the figures of holdings tabled at Moscow were: France 631,483 United States of America 15,003 U.S.S.R. 890,532 United Kingdom 435,295 As regards the second hall...
Mr Christopher Mayhew: The figures of unemployed in the British zone are kept by German labour offices; they do not show repatriated prisoners of war separately.
Mr Christopher Mayhew: ...of Foreign Ministers in Moscow on 23rd April that plans for the return to Germany by the end of 1948 of all German members of the former German armed forces and auxiliary services now held as prisoners of war should be published by 1st July, 1947. This agreement represents the successful outcome of the continued efforts of my right hon. Friend, who, on three previous occasions during the...
