EXCHANGE OF WAR PRISONERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3012, 24 February 1917, Page 9

EXCHANGE OF WAR PRISONERS

-"' CIVILIANS AND SOLDIERS • «" A DIFFICULT PROBLEM ",'.'. (Rec. February 23, 8.30 p.m.)":'":." ' London, February 22. . Speaking in the House of Lords, Lord Newton (Minister in Charge or the AVar Prisoners Department) _ stated that there were 650 British civilians .and 34,000 soldiers in An exchange-of civilians with Austria-had not been begun, because in exchange for a total of 200 Britisli prisoners Austria! sought to receive 11,000 Austrian! ' who were interned in Britain. The considerate treatment accorded our prisoners by Austria was in sharp contrast to that accorded by Germany, Britain and France were negotiating with Turkey, with a view to exchanging civilians, and 20 percent, of soldier prisoners. It vas not- true to represent Ruhleben as a hell on earth compared with the paradise at the British internment camps. According to Mr. Gerard (late American Minister to Germany), the conditions at Ruhleben had recently been improved, .but the Government Was anxious to guard the conditions of the BfHkh prisoners in Germany. . The exchange' of AngloGerman prisoners had been entirely,-. but»he hoped temporarily, suspended, because of Germany's cold-Floo'ifcd ferocity.—Reuter. In the House of Commons, .Mr. Hope, stated that the obstacles to the_ ex- . change -of civilian prisoners had hitherto been insurmountable, and the idea. of a general exchange had been abandoned. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ';.-:.