PROTEST TO BERLIN

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 17, 15 October 1942, Page 5

PROTEST TO BERLIN

Chaining Of British Prisoners CHURCHILL’S STATEMENT (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 13. Referring to the chaining of British prisoners of war by Germany, Mr. Churchill said in the House of Commons that the British Government bad never countenanced any general order for tying up prisoners on the field of battle.

“Such a process,” he said, "may be necessary from time to time in the stress of circumstances, and may indeed be in the best interests of the safety of the prisoners themselves. The Geneva Convention on the treatment of prisoners of war does not attempt to regulate what happens in actual fighting. It is confined solely to the treatment of prisoners who have been securely captured and are in the responsible charge of a hostile Government. Both the British and German Governments are bound by this convention.

“The German Government, by throwing into chains 1376 British prisoners for whose proper treatment it is responsible, has violated Article 2 of the convention. It is thus attempting to use prisoners of war as if they are hostages on whom reprisals can be taken for occurrences on the field of battle with which the prisoners could have had nothing to do. Genova Convention Violated.

“The action of the German Govcrn.inent has affronted the sanctity, of the Geneva Convention, which the British Government is always anxious to observe punctiliously. Therefore it approached the protecting Power and invited that Power to lay. before the German Government our solemn protest against this breach of the Geneva Convention and urge that it desist from it, in which case the counter-measures o£ a similar character which the British Government has felt itself forced to take in order to protect prisoners of war in enemy hands will immediately oe withdrawn.” Mr. Churchill added: “Till we icarn from the protecting Power the results ot cur protest, I have no further statement to make, and would strongly deprecate any discussion which might be prejudicial to the action of the protecting Power and consequently to the interests of prisoners of war of both belligerent countries. As soon as a - reply is received, a further statement will be made to the House.” Conflict of Opinion.

A difference of opinion is running strongly in Canada regarding the wisdom of reprisal by the fettering of war prisoners, says the Ottawa correspondent of the “New York Times.” Some argue that it is a sign of utter weakness not to retaliate, stating that the Allies played gently with the Germans at the beginning of the war, with disastrous .results. The opposite view is expressed by 'he Toronto “Globe and Mail,” . which opposes entering into a contest in brutality which we cannot win. It says: Savagery in cold blood is the most demoralizing influence on earth. If we practise it on the excuse of retributive justice we will have cause to regret it.” This view is held in many quarters. The argument is complicated by the fact that all the military prisoners held in Canada are prisoners who were captured by the British, and also that the decision to fetter them was made .in London. It is a pity if London decision on policy runs counter to the Canadian, but such seems to be the case. Certain croups oven blame the British military authorities and the British Government for the situation, rather than the Nazis. Thus, in creating the possibility of such a conflict of opinion, it is felt that Herr Hitler has scored a success. BERLIN RADIO COMMENT (Received October 14, 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 13. Berlin radio, commenting ou Mr. Churchill's statement in the House ot Commons, says that Mr. Churchill does not strengthen his case by stating that from time to time under pressure ot circumstances and in their own interests, it was found necessary to bind prisoners. It is extremely difficult to persuade any prisoner of war that it is in bis own interest to be bound. However, it does not matter whether the British Got eminent endorsed the orders regarding the tying of prisoners or not. IV hat matters is only whether Britain is prepared to cancel the order regarding the clininin ß of German prisoners.