The agreement regarding prisoners of war, which was negotiated at
the Hague by Lord Newton with the German delegates, has been ratified. A summary of its provisions was given to the House of Commons on Friday week. The medical testa imposed on sick or wounded prisoners before they may be sent home or interned in • neutral country are to be less severe. The worst casts among the prisoners in Switzerland are to be released, so as to make room for others. Holland has generously undertaken to provide for seven thousand five hundred sick or wounded from among the German and British prisoners, and for six thousand five hundred officers and non-commissioned officers who have been in captivity for eighteen months, as well as for two thousand civilian prisoners—four German civilians being released by us for every British civilian released from Ruhleben. The punishment of prisoners attempting to escape is to be lightened. No further reprisals against prisoners are to be taken, except on four weeks' notice.
Previous page
