Degrading Business for German War Prisoners and British Women

Grey River Argus, 4 June 1948, Page 8

Degrading Business for German War Prisoners and British Women

LONDON, June 2. In the House of Commons a debate arose out of an article written by a woman novelist, E. Arnot Robertson, when she returned from Egypt recently. The debate dealt with the British Government’s action in. employing German war prisoners to act as batmen fox' British women in the Middle East in women’s service and civilian camps. The Under-Secretary of State (Mr Michael Stewart) •in the House admitted that German prisoners of wax- had been batmen to British women in women’s service and civilian camps in the Middle East as women servants could not be employed in the desert. He denied that the prisoners had embarrassed the women.

The novelist’s article said: “Only the pure in heart of the Wai* Office could have arranged that out in the desert, where there is awfully little attraction. Anyway, these young German prisoners, in the pink of physical health, many of them five years from any normal association with women, should act as personal attendants to jolly young women, many of whom are very pretty, all of whom are overfed and under-exercis-ed. On complaint can set back a man’s repatriation for three months and the Germans are all desperate to get home. They scarcely glance at the girls for fear of a complaint.” Mr E. Bramall (Labour) told the House that not only the women, but the “wretched men” were embarrassed.

Mr J. Rankin (Labour) said he understood that the prisoners had to serve morning tea to young women in bed, and if they looked too happy in the process they were reported. It was difficult for them to have an in-between mood. Mr Stewart said that there was no evidence that any prisoner needed disciplining.