FLAGRANT BREACH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24733, 9 October 1941, Page 7

FLAGRANT BREACH

GERMANY'S ACTION EXCHANGE OF PRISONERS THE SCHEME NULLIFIED LONDON, Oct. 7. It is authoritatively stated that, owing to a flagrant breach of faith on behalf of the German Government. German sick and wounded are being disembarked from the hospital ships and sent back to their camps. It is also authoritatively stated that a message was received on the morning of October 6, through the American Government, saying that the G:rman Government was now prepared only m agree to a limited exchange of prisoners on a numerical basis. Attempts were made on the afternoon of October 6 by wireless to clarify the position, but wh?n it became evident that Germany was attempting at th.-? last moment completely to overthrow the previously-agreed basis for the repatriation scheme, Britain found it necessary to cancel the sailing of the ships. DETAILS OF SCHEME AN OFFICIAL STATEMENT RUGBY, Oct. 7. An authoritative statement was made to-day setting out details of the arrangements for an interchange of British and German prisoners of war and of the chsck which had been experienced in carrying them out. It is pointed out that the condition governing the repatriation of sick and wounded prisoners of war is clearly stated in Article 68 of the International Convention relative to the treatment of prisoners of war, which the present German Governmsnt recognised as binding upon it. Article 68 states: " Belligerents shall be required to send back to their own country, without regard to rank or numbers, after rendering them in fit condition for transport, prisoners of war who airs seriously ill or seriously wounded." Special attention is drawn to the words "without regard to rank or numbers." Undsr Article 9 of the International Convention for the amelioration cf the wounded and sick of armies in the field, medical personnel and chaplains have likewise the right to be repatriated, and this class is referred to as "protected personnel." An authoritative statement reveals that proposals for repatriation have been under discussion with the German Government for many months, but it was impossible to reach an agreement with regard to the route and method of transport. On September 9 a proposal was received from the German Government through the Swiss Legation suggesting that the sick and wounded should be repatriated in a British hospital ship through the Channel ports. This suggestion had been put forward several months before by his Majesty's Government, but had been rejected by the German Government. The British Government, through the Swiss Government, accepted the proposal of September 1, which referred only to sick and severely wounded prisoners of war. and did not include protected personnel. On September 9 a message was received from the German Government through the American Embassy stating that there were some 1200 British prisoners 6f war approved for re--patriation by a medical commission in Germany. The negotiations proceeded on the clear understanding that the operations dealt with those eligible for repatriation under Article 68, and no others. Exchange of Civilians In answer to, this message his Majesty's Government replied that the operations could be carried out in the period from' October 4-7. The German Government as lately as September 20 expressed the hope that repatriation might be begun as soon as possible after October 1, adding that it hoped it might be possible eventually to include in the repatriation civilians interned sick and over-age civilians, but it stated quite definitely that it had no intention of making the repatriation of wounded prisoners of war conditional on the repatriation of interned civilians. At the same time it also stated that, whereas it was sending over 1200 British prisoners of war, Britain was only sending 150 or so Germans, and expressed the hope that the British Government could consider again action which would justify the adoption of a receptive attitude to any proposal which might follow for the exchange of civilians. On September 19 the British Government received a further message from the German Government stating that agreement on the principle of the proposal of his Majesty's Government for mutual repatriation of sick and wounded combatants now in third countries, such as Eire, Uruguay and unoccupied France was an indispensable condition to carrying out the proposed scheme of repatriation.

His Majesty's Government replied that in pursuance of previouslydeclared policy it reaffirmed its readiness to agree to mutual repatriation of women and children and men over military age, and, as a token, its intention to send with sick and wounded prisoners of war the first batch of some 60 German civilians. It also agreed to the proposal regarding third countries. On October 2 the German Government replied that, in view of the unsatisfactory attitude of his Majesty's Government, a, new situation had arisen which made it impossible for the German Government to adhere to the date agreed to. Arrangements, however were made to start repatriation on October 7, but in view of yesterday's message from Germany, sailings were cancelled.

While his Majesty's Government is most reluctant to forgo bringing backto their homes sick and severely wounded British prisoners of war it is not prepared, in view of the negotiations during the last few days, to risk being made the victim of a flagrant breach of faith on the part of the German Government, more especially as the bulk of British sick and wounded would clearly lose all chance of repatriation." REASON FOR BREAKDOWN GERMAN INFAMY (Rec. 0.5 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 8 The Daily Mail, in a leader with reference to the breakdown of the exchange of prisoners said: " No bargain of any kind is.possible with the Germans unless it is imposed by force They have stooped to infamy, using broken men as counters in a swindling deal. Who knows how flagrant th« breach of faith might have been once German prisoners were safely or French soil? " The Daily Express says: "The Geneva Convention is the only one the Germans have .chosen to operate. It is increasingly clear that they are using it only for their own dirty purposes. Our answer must leach thp enemies of mankind that decency and observance of the moral law will en-

I dure when all the gangsters of Germany have been put below, where they belong." "The radio can be used for certain technical discussion with regard to the exenange of prisoners, but the British used this for publicity," says the German News Agency. It adds that Germany officially pointed out that the British announcements were outstripping the facts, whereupon the 8.8. C. sensationally announced that the hospital ships coud not leave and the British press asserted that Germany had frustrated a humane act. The Wilhelmstrasse considers this is scandalous. Negotiations will be continued through the United States. NEGOTIATIONS WITH ITALY LONDON, Oct. 7. Negotiations are proceeding for tht repatriation of sick and wounds 4 British and Italian prisoners of war. When the exchange is made :%» Italians sent home will greatly outnumber the British prisoners repatriated, but it is officially emphasised that Britain, despite this disparity, will ad* here to the terms of the Geneva Convention.