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Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 October 1941, Page 5

HELD UP

EXCHANGE OF WOUNDED WAR PRISONERS LATE-HOUR SUGGESTION BY GERMANY. INCLUSION OF CIVILIANS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 4. At a late stage in the negotiations for the exchange of sick and wounded war prisoners the German Government drew attention to the fact that there were fewer German sick and wounded prisoners of war who were eligible to be repatriated than there were British. In consequence Germany has asked his Majesty’s Government to agree to include in the exchange a number of German civilian internees. The German Government added, however, that it had no intention of making the granting of the request an indispensable condition for the repatriation of prisoners of war. The British Government informed the German Government that in pursuance of its previously declared policy it reaffirmed its readiness to agree to the mutual repatriation of British and German women and children and men over military age, and that further, as a token of its intention, it would be prepared to send with the returning sick and wounded prisoners of war a first batch of some 60 German civilian internees. Last night, however, the German Government stated it would require further time to consider the British reply and meanwhile it was not prepared to proceed with the exchange of prisoners of war as previously arranged. If a satisfactory answer is not received by tomorrow morning the German prisoners on board the hospital ships at Newhaven will be disembarked. A report that the last-minute hitch was caused by German insistence on the repatriation of Rudolf Hess is discredited by authoritative circles in London. A spokesman said that there had been no request for individuals. It is certain categories which are being exchanged.