JAPAN’S PRISONERS

Grey River Argus, 22 October 1943, Page 2

JAPAN’S PRISONERS

GREAT DISSATISFACTION. LONDON, Oct. 20. The Secretary of State for War (Sir James Grigg) replying to a question in the House of Commons, said Britain was "thoroughly dissatisfied" with the diet allowed prisoners in Japanese hands. Reports from the protecting power and the International Red Cross Committee showed that prisoners in Japan, Korea, Shangnai, and Hong Kong were probably receiving a ration not less than that applicable to Japanese depot troops. This ration generally consisted of polished rice with- a little flour, vegetables or fish. Sometimes a little meat or fruit was available, and tne rations given in S'hangahai were often supplemented by the Red Cross. The evidence left no room to uoubt that these rations “are inadequate to maintain our people who are prisoners over any long period in reasonable health. The Japanese Government has been pressed to remedy the deficiencies. They have been asked to supplement the diet with soya beans, but they refused, owing to lack oi supplies." . This applied in areas from which he had definite reports, said Sir James, but more than tnree-quarters of the prisoners were in areas south of Hong Kong. Here, the Japanese had banned all visits by independent visitors. His Majesty’s Government had protested against this failure to honour the Prisoners of War Convention, but the protests had been unavailing. Information! available, which was regarded as reliable, indicated that the provision of food in these areas almost invariably reii short of the standard. The situation in the southern area was therefore serious. His Majesty’s Government was thoroughly dissatisfied, and nad taken all possible steps to represent these views to the Japanese Governm The problem of relief had received the constant attention of the Government The British, American, and Canadian. Red Cross Societies were exploring together every channel to Induce the Japanese to permit relief stores to enter the controlled territories, but little could be done while the Japanese refused essential facilities to the International Red Cross. The Soviet Government, said Sir James, had been so good as to receive aruo; provide storage in Vladivostok for 1500 tons of relief supplies monthly. These would be carried across the Pacific in Soviet ships. The Japanese, although they had agreed to this, had not disclosed how such supplies should be conveyed to the controlled territories andjdistributed.