1940-11-16 — Page 9

THE CHINA MAIL, NOVEMBER 16, 1940

GENEVARULES ON TREATMENT OF PRISONERS

OF THE MANY conventions framed at Geneva to alleviate the cruelties of war, one that seems to have survived the stress of modern warfare better than most has been the convention, signed July, 1929, in relation to the treatment of prisoners of war.

Advices received in Ottawa seem to indicate that the terms of the convention are being on the whole conscientiously observed by belligerents.

This fact has been brought to light amid the outburst of public criticism over the escape of a few prisoners from internment camps in Canada and the modest punish- ment inflicted on the fugitives when they have been recaptured. No more severe punishment than confinement for 28 days has been given,

Actually the prisoners, at least those who have tried to escape into the rocky wilderness where they had to live on berries and whatever else seemed edible, were

CANADA'S

RELATIONS

WITH VICHY

glad enough to get back to the Moved by

internment camp.

a

desire to

The treatment of prisoners and keep in friendly touch

MAIL TO BERLIN DELAYED

ONE YEAR

Mail from the Unit- ed States, dated November, 1939, has finally reached the Berlin Bureau of the Associated Press.

One letter, post- marked November 11 at Key West, Fla., ran the gauntlet of both British and Ger- man censors. Another dated November 16 in New York, bore

the punishment given those who with the people of France.! only the German cen~

try unsuccessfully to escape are

laid down by the Geneva con- Canada is maintaining vention. No penalty can be im- official relations with the

posed that is more severe than 28

days confinement. The adminis-Vichy Government thr- tration of the camps, feeding of prisoners and housing all follow ugh the French Lega- the terms of the regulation which tion in Ottawa headed by is under the jurisdiction of an in-Rene Ristelhueber. ternational commission.

has

Observers and inspectors from Officials say the situation this body, which is in active and not changed despite recent actions effective operation, visit

bel-by the Vichy Government in bomb- ligerent countries. One of these ing Gibraltar. They add that the inspectors is now

making the future will be entirely dependent rounds of Canadian camps. These on developments which they hesi- inspectors hear complaints of pri- tated to forecast. soners, investigate them, and for- A nation-wide organisation pre- ward their finding to Geneva, pared to help the Free French The observers are naturally Forces under Gen. Charles de prejudiced in favour of the pri-Gaulle has been set up in Canada soners, whose interests are there- but pending the granting of a fore certain to receive the most charter by the Federal Govern- careful and sympathetic consi-ment is not taking positive action deration in reports sent to the; it was learned from Henri Gau- commission's headquarters. Great thier, Ottawa representative of the Britain has its observers in Ger- organisation. many and in countries occupied by the enemy.

Fear Of Retaliation

The first surest guarantee of the fair treatment of prisoners is the fear of retaliation. Each country will be restrained from the exercise of undue severity or from placing any sort of stigma on recaptured prisoners by the fear that similar or worse treatment might be inflicted on their own soldiers held in con- centration camps in the enemy's ,country.

Attempting to escape is not a crime under the rules of war- fare. Being taken prisoner is the "crime" which subjects the pri- soner to court martial when he is again with his own coun- trymen, and one of the most effective claims to leniency is that the prisoner made every attempt to escape from prison camp. It is thoroughly under- stood here that the only way to remedy the present situation is to increase precautions against prisoners escaping.

The organisation springs from the visit to Canada in July of Henri de Kerillis, personal repre- sentative of General de Gaulle. M. de Kerillis asked that French-born residents of Canada form an or- ganisation but at that stage was unable to indicate what action the organisation should take.

Later, after the organisation was formed, it offered its assistance to General de Gaulle and he replied, suggesting that, if possible money be raised among French citizens for the purchase of tanks other articles of war equipment for the Frce French Forces.

and

Some Frenchmen have al- ready left Canada to join the Free French Forces under Gon- eral de Gaulle but so long ea Canada recognises the Vichy Government of France, no en- listment of men in Canada for service in the Free French Forces and no training in Cana da would be possible, The organisation recently ap- plied for a temporary

federal charter authorising it to collect funds but the charter has not been granted and no word about the

A board of inquiry is now decision on the application has sitting in the camp from which] been received,

the last escape was, made. • The

- report is expected shortly. After

that there will be a general in- DEBT NOTE

vestigation of the whole question

by a board that has already been selected by the Minister of -National Defence,

AIR-RAID SHELTER ON ROMAN FORT

SENT TO GERMANY

The United States has given Germany a semi-annual remin- der of post World War indebted- ness to this country and omitted the usual offer to war debt de- faulters to consider an offer for a' settlement.

of

of

State Department officials would not comment on, the rea- Workmen constructing air-rald | sons for this omission in the shelters in the suburb of Stanwix | last. note to Germany, which have uncovered a nine-acre · Ro- | was delivered September 12. man fort dating back to about The German debt, amounting the second century.pn to approximately $271,000.000,

The fort, which formed part of¦ cònsists mainly of the cost Hadrian's wall, 15 · rectangular | American Army ̈ occupation shaped, 580 feet by 700 feet; and | Germany after the war. A debt is 300 feet broader than any settlement....was reached with other "fort on the wall.

Germany in 1930 and was fol- Hadrian's wall, » 74 miles long, lowed by a moratorium in 1933 was built by Emperor Hadrian | since which time. Germany has In about 120 A.D., and stretched | been in default.··· from Solway Firth to the mouth The usual note to Germany is of the Tyne. It was designed to on a different date, than those protect-Roman. Britain from the given to other war debtor... nas tribes of the north.

tions,

sor's mark.

Letters posted in the United States last May arrived last week. Mail sent by Atlantic clipper usually arrives within a fortnight.

ACCOMMODATING WITNESS

Andrew J. Ryan, Assistant Soli- citor General, sought to establish the time of a shooting.

"July?" he inquired of the wit- ness,

"No, Sir, I didn't lie," came the somewhat indignant response.

Make

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Page

Model

Miles

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1934.

·36593

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1934

32420

54

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1935

318043615

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Studebaker Champion Coupe

1940

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Vauxhall 14 Saloon

Studebaker Champion Sedan

1940

1643 6417

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1934

35213

3202

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Studebaker Sedan

1936 10887:

791

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