WAR PRISONERS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 129, 14 July 1941, Page 6

WAR PRISONERS

RED CROSS WATCHFUL WJJLI ARE OF MEN The anxieties of relatives and friends in New Zealand regarding the safety and comfort of prisoners of war in Germany, Ital5 r . Greece and elsewhere should be somewhat allayed by statements made to a "Post" reporter by Dr. George W. Morel, delegate in Australia of the International Red Cross, in an interview. Dr. Morel has been appointed by the Red Cross to study and report on conditions prevailing in prisoner of war and internment camps in this part of the world, and similar delegates have been appointed to check up on conditions throughout the belligerent countries. "As a whole," said Dr. Morel, "I must state that the terms of the Convention of 1929 regarding the treatment of -prisoners of war ar" being applied strictly. There mav be soma exceptions, which are, how--ever, quieklj' remedied, caused perhaps through the outlook of the particular camp commands." Impartial Reports. Dr. Morel explained that a num ; bcr of delegates, all of Swiss nationality, were appointed to the various belligerent countries, and were required to report to Geneva on the conditions obtaining in the internment camps and the prisoners of war camps;. They also acted as intermediaries between the In ternational Red Cross and the local Governments and Red Cross autl> orities. The job of ilie delegates was to visit the camps from time to time and to see if anything was amiss. If so, they made immediate representations to the Government con, ccrned, and general]}" the representations were carried out quickly, [f not, the shortcomings were reported to Geneva, and the International Red Cross committee, itself made representations. The renorta of the delegates, said Dr. Morel, were quite impartial, and did not pass through any Government, but went straight to Geneva.

Speedier advice of the names of New Zealand and Australian missing is also likely to be achieved ow ing to representations made: by the Red Cross,, he said. In the past, difficulty had been experienced through the Jack of distinction between the British proper and the New Zealanders • and Australians because they were all classified "Britishers." This meant that ill lists went to London, where they were classified and finally dispatched, but representations had been made to the German and Italian Governments that classification sl\ould be done on the spot, and that the names of New Zealand and Australian prisoners of war should be dispatched direct to Canberra and Wellington. This scheme, said Dr. Morel, was just coming into operation, and it should result in the minimum of delay. Helping the Prisoners. Dr. Morel said that, apart from its work of supplying and collecting information as; to the names oi prisoners of war, and of supplying and transmitting parcels and cor respondence, the International Red Cross was also concerned with. the amelioration of the conditions of prisoners of war as a whole. The organisation did its best to interest itself in the social activities of the prisoners, and arranged classes, supplied books and all kinds of games, beside acting as intermediary between. Governments and sympathetic organisations. Thei immense amount of work put in voluntarily by Swiss workers, op behalf of the Red Cross was highly praised by Dr. Morel, who alsj ' appreciatively «>f the court'>sies and help that had been extended to him by . the Government military authorities, and various 1 ions since .his arrival ia New Zealand.