BRITISH PRISONERS IN GERMANY.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14139, 15 July 1916, Page 5

BRITISH PRISONERS IN GERMANY.

CHARGE OF UNDERFEEDING

REPUDIATED;

THE GERMAN REPLY

REPATRIATION PROPOSALS

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association)

London, July 13

Lord Robert Cecil Under-S'eeretary for Foreign Affairs, speaking in the House of Commons, read a lengthy German reply categorically repudiating the charge that they had not recognised their obligations regarding food for British prisoners. The German Government had sanctioned the despatch of collective consignments to prisoners on condition that they did not contain a predominance of those commodities which were only obtainable to a limited extent by Germans in consequence of the British blockade. If, as a reprisal, the rations of Germ an ■ prisoners were reduced, the Government proposed not only to withdraw collective consignments of parcels, but also the reception of individual parcels.

Lord Robert Cecil said the last part of the German reply regarding the exchange of civilian prisoners appeared to mean that we should release all German civilians in exchange for all British civilians, regardless of the respective numbers. The Government proposed to reply that it could not be accepted if it meant sending 26,000 Germans for 4000 British. He \\ ould propose to repatriate civilians over 50 and all over 45 unfit for service. Of the remainder equal numbers of each nationality should be interned in a neutral country. Replying .to a .query as to whether this meant the abandonment of the policy of reprisals,. Lord Cecil said the Government would hold a free hand to retaliate if it became the only way to secure justice. ...,

t 1 ABLE NEWS.

P*beßß Association—Cofteight.}