1 JULY 1916, Page 9

The rest of the Parliamentary news of the week can

be briefly recorded. On Thursday week in the Commons Sir Edward Grey stated that some two thousand British prisoners transferred to parts of Russia in German occupation had complained of the severity of their treatnynt, and that the American Ambassador had been asked to make inquiries. On Monday Lord Robert Cecil made a more serious statement as to the condition of the British civilian prisoners at Ruhleben. In May the prisoners were allowed only a little more than a third of the protein-carrying foods ordinarily granted to combatant prisoners, while potato rations had been reduced to less than half. On June 3rd the German Government were informed that if they could not feed their prisoners properly it was their duty to release them. The British Government were ready to consider any proposals for an exchange of civilians.