LEFT BEHIND

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 97, 26 April 1945, Page 7

LEFT BEHIND

ALLIED PRISONERS GERMAN OFFER ACCEPTED P.A. WELLINGTON, this day. The acting-Prime Minister, Mr. Nash, said last night that for some time United Kingdom and other British Commonwealth Governments, together with the Governments of the United States, Russia and other members of the United Nations at war with Germany, had considered the action which could be taken to avoid unnecessary hardship to prisoners of war, and, in particular, to prevent their being moved from place to place in Germany. ''The inmates of many camps have been moved by the German authorities in the face of the Allied advances," said Mr. Nash, "and these transfers of prisoners in many cases have involved some hardship to the men.. Information has now been received from the United Kingdom authorities that the Swiss Government has transmitted an offer from the German Government to leave Allied prisoners of war in situ areas near the fronts, provided a formal undertaking is given by the Allied Governments that the prisoners thus liberated will not return to active service. This offer has been accepted by all British Commonwealth Governments and by the Governments of the United States and Russia." Mr. Nash also issued the text of a statement issued by the British, United States and Russian Governments regarding the care and treatment of prisoners of war, internees and deported citizens in German hands.