CIVILIAN PRISONERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1660, 11 January 1917, Page 4

CIVILIAN PRISONERS.

AGREEMENT FOR EXCHANGE,

SEVEN THOUSAND GERMANS

A cable message published recently reported that an agreement has been completed between Britain and Germany for the repatriation of all interned civilians over the age of 45 years, with the exception of 20 on each side. This agreement is the result of protracted negotiati- , ons, conducted through the intermediary of the American Embassy

in Berlin. Speaking in the House of Lords on Octobei; 24th, Lord Devonport said it had been reported that an arrangement had been arrived at whereby all men over 45 years of age were to be repatriated, irrespective of numbers. If an agreement had been come to on those lines it meant that we should give

up 4,000 German civilians and re- ' ceive in return (500 British civilians from Ruhleben. The Secretary for Foreign Affairs had stated that His Majesty’s Government were unable to agree to the German offer to exchange all for all, because that would mean exchanging 20,000 Germans for 4,000 British. Yet under the arrangement now reported to have been made the disproportion was just as marked, and from the first we had always exchanged on a disproportionate basis. He was prepared to argue that the balance of advantage in getting rid of the whole 20,000 German civilian prisoners in exchange for the wljole of the British civilian prisoners would enure to us. They represented the most active and undesirable part of the German garrison which quartered itself upon us here before the Avar. They lived here, they traded here, and no doubt they spied here. They could be got rid of now without difficulty, Avhereas it the Government attempted to carry out that operation when the war Avas over they Avould probably find themselves confronted with enormous difficulties.

Lord Bcresford submitted that anything His Majesty's Government could do to relieve those avlio Avere suffering under the horrors of RuhJehen ought, to be done. From letters he had received it was clear that many months would not elapse before loss of memory, loss of mind, and even madness, Avould increase enormously in that camp. He agreed that it Avould he a very Avise thing to get rid of the 2(5,000 Germans interned here. Most of these people Avould dislike very much to he sent to Germany, because they would much prefer to continue to prey on us here. PROGRESS OF NEGOTIATIONS. Lord NeAvton, Assistant Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs, recapitulated Avhat had occurred Avith regard to the exchange of civilian prisoners. On June 23rd avc proposed a man-for-man exchange with Germany. This Germany refused, on the ground that it Avould he invidious to make selections, and therefore it must he a total exchange of German civilians against British civilians. To that His Majesty’s Government replied that they were not prepared to exchange 26,000 for 4,000, hut that they were prepared to exchange every man over 50 and all men over 45 avlio were unfit for military service. This was followed by a request from the Germans on August 2nd Ilia) we should exchange everyone over 45, and His Majesty’s Government replied that they would be prepared to do so provided that of the remaining British civilians a number was exchanged for an equivalent number of German civilians. This proposal the Germans declined. On September 4th His Majesty’s Government informed the German Government that the part of the proposal which related to men under 45 was withdrawn. Subsequently the Germans informed ITis Majesty’s Government that they Avere willing lo exchange all over 4.5 if we would release all the German civilians over 45 throughout the British Empire without any exception Avhatsoever. On September 19th His Majesty's Government accepted this proposal, making the stipulation that not more than 20 men should he retained on each side for what are known as military reasons; also, that no one should he obliged to go Avho did not wish to leave, that the cost of repatriation should be borne by the respective Governments, and that included in the lists should be all retired naval and military officers and all men belonging to the raareantile marine. Bis Majesty’s Government pointed out that by this proposal they Avere making an enormous concession numerically ,and that they only felt justified in making a disproportionate exchange of this character on humanitarian grounds. TEN GERMANS FOR ONE BRITON.

By this arrangement we should get back six or seven hundred men at most, while the Germans would recover about 4,000 from this country and about 3,000 from abroad — a proportion of something like ten to one. On October 20th the Government received the German reply, which really amounted to an unconditional acceptance, but in their reply they expressed great regret, •n humanitarian grounds of all others ,that all civilians -were not included in the exchange. If the German Government were actuated by such strong humanitarian sentiments it was strange that they left the British Government's proposal of September 16jh so long unanswered. It was only on October 20th they seat their grudging reply. He jv’iis prepared to .admit that in this

transaction there was nothing on which we were particularly entitled to pride ourselves, but it had to he remembered that men over 45 were not liable for military sendee in Germany at present, and the testimony of those who had visited these camps went to show that it was the older men who had suffered most, and therefore most deserved the effort to liberate them. It was some satisfaction to him that at all events, something definite had been achieved in this matter, and that a large proportion of these men would at last recover their liberty.

THE GERMAN PROPOSALS

A few days later, the Imperial Government issued the following as the text of the German Government’s reply to the British proposals forwarded by the American Charge d’Affaires at Berlin to Mr Page, who transmitted it to Viscount Grey:—

“Note of Foreign Office received to-day states German Government regrets extremely, from motives of humanity, nonacceptance of German proposals for a general exchange of all civilians, as only excuse for their detention removed by non-employment in army. Government also regrets that British Government has not concurred in reciprocal exchange over 45 without exceptions.

“In order to prevent failure agreement, German Government will

not refuse consent to tenor of British proposal. Accordingly, German civilians over 45 interned British Empire including colonics and possessions, and British civilians over that age interned Germany, as Avell as those iioav under 45 on each side when that age reached, to he released. Each side to he at liberty to detain up to 20 on each side for military reasons. Neither Government to have right to demand repatriation of persons unwilling to leave. Cost-of repatriation to be borne by persons returning or by their Governments. Repatriations of Germans from British colonies and overseas dominions to foIIoAV with the utmost speed which circumstances alloAV. Retired officers of army and navy not in receipt of pay, as well as officers and eroAv of British and Gorman merchantmen, to be considered civilians fur purpose of the agreement. German Government assumes that present arrangement Avill be applied to civilians on each side Avho come into hostile hands in subsequent course of Avar.

“Regarding performance of agreement, German Government proposes: First, to exchange as simultaneously as possible in about three equal groups of ciA'ilians entitled to repatriation; secondly, names of persons to be detained on each side to be reciprocally communicated; finally, German Government expects, as already emphasised in note verbal of August 31st, that persons detained in England Avhose release should have folloAved in accordance Avith previous agreement shall be returned Avith first shipment.”