SHACKLED PRISONERS

Evening Star, Issue 24325, 14 October 1942, Page 3

SHACKLED PRISONERS

CONVENTION VIOLATED BY GERMANY STATEMENT BY MR CHURCHILL (British Official Wireless.) (Rec. 10 a.m.) RUGBY, October 13. Referring- to the chaining of British prisoners of war by Germany, Mr Churchill, in the House of Commons, said the British Government never countenanced any general order for the trying up of prisoners on the field of battle. “ Such a process,” he said, I‘may bo necessary from time to time’ in tho stress of circumstances, and may indeed be in tho best interests of the safety of the prisoners themselves. The Geneva Convention on tho 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. Tho Gorman Government, by throwing into chains 1,376 British prisoners, for whose proper treatment it is responsible, have violated Article 11. of the convention. It is thus attempting to use prisoners of war as if they were hostages upon whom reprisals can be taken for occurrences in the field of battle, with which the said prisoners could have had nothing to do. The action of the German Government 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 Gorman Government our solemn protest against this breach of tho Geneva Convention and urge it to desist from it, in which case the counter-measures of a similar character which tho British Government instituted will immediately bo withdrawn.” _ Mr Churchill added ; “ Until we leam from the protecting Power tho results of the 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 the interests of the prisoners of war of both belligerent countries. As soon as a reply is received a further statement will be made to the House.” BRITISH RETALIATION DOMINIONS IN AGREEMENT LONDON, October 12. The diplomatic correspondent oi th( ■ Daily Telegraph 3 says that if negotiations which were carried on to-day are 1 successful the reprisals race in the treatment of war prisoners may be avoided and Germany may countermand the order to chain the Dieppe war prisoners. The German High Command’s silence, which has lasted since October 8, was significantly maintained to-day. General consultations between the Governments have taken place since Germany first announced her decision to chain the prisoners. Complete agree-' ment existed among the dominions from the beginning on the necessity of taking retaliatory measures. The Danish newspaper ‘ Politiken ’ published a private message from Berlin to the effect that the Germans at noon on October 10 fettered approximately 6,000 British prisoners, making about 8,000 in all. A German radio announcer said today: “It is genuinely to be hoped that the German Government will be satisfied with the British explanation, because it is extremely regrettable that innocent people should suffer as the result of the British military authorities’ barbarous and clumsy methods.” 1 The Times,’ in a leader, says: “ To tho German mind, British prisoners, like the French, are an asset which has so far not been used, but is now to be exploited. Any occasion could be found or invented for the purpose, and tho answer to this policy is not in competitive reprisals. The answer to the policy is military. The right answer is to give the strong surge of indignation sweeping this country its rightful outlet in the waging of a relentless war.” The Berlin radio to-night switched its allegations of ill-treatment of war prisoners from Britain to Russia, and declared that a Russian military surgeon who was captured admitted that all German prisoners were shot at Sebastopol under the Russian commander’s orders. WISDOM OF REPRISALS QUESTIONED DIVERGENT OPINIONS IN CANADA (Rec. 11.25 a.m.) NEW YORK, October 13. Difference of opinion is running strongly in Canada regarding the wisdom of reprisal fettering of prisoners, says tho ‘ New York Times’ ’ Ottawa correspondent. Some argue that it is a sign of utter weakness not to retaliate, pointing out that the Allies played gently with tho Germans at the beginning of the war with disastrous results. The opposite view is expressed by the Toronto ‘ Globe-Mail,’ which opposes entering into a contest in brutality which we cannot win. It says; “ Savagery in cold blood is the most demoralising influence on earth. If we practise it on the excuse of retributive justice we will have cause to regret.” This view is held in many quarters. The argument is complicated by the fact that all military prisoners held in Canada arc prisoners captured by the British, also the decision to fetter them was made in London. It is a pity that the London decision and policy run counter to Canadian, but such seems to be the case. Certain groups even blame the British military authorities ami the Government for the situation rather than the Nazis. Thus in creating the possibility of such a conflict of opinion it is felt that Hitler has scored a success. AUSTRALIAN ARMY AGE STATEMENT BY MINISTER SYDNEY. October 13. “ I believe that soldiers under 19 should not be scut into the firing line,” said tho Minister for tho Army, Mr If. M. Forde, to-day. “No soldier under 19 already in Now Guinea will proceed beyond the base area, and in future no Australian soldier under that age will be sent to New Guinea or Darwin.” The Minister added that, in view of complaints that some soldiers between 18 and 19 were in New Guinea and Darwin, ho had communicated with General Blarney, who had agreed with him on tho principles outlined. The question of withdrawing soldiers -under 19 who were with the forward units in New Guinea was one which at the moment presented great difficulties, but inquiries were being made as to the number, if any. involved, and the practicability of bringing them back to tho base.