and allow the Protecting Power and the International Red Cross Committee visitors to press for differences in diet to meet the differing needs, customs and habits of prisoners of war from different countries.
251. No amendments are proposed in the remaining paragraphs of Article 11 of the 1929 Prisoners of War Convention, which deal with facilities for preparing food, the provision of drinking water, the use of tobacco and banning collective disciplinary measures affecting food.
252. P.W. article 12- Clothing, Underwear, Footwear and Canteens. The 1947 Geneva Conference recommended that this Article should be divided, the provisions relating to canteens being carried to a separate Article. So far as clothing etc. is concerned, the 1947 Conference recommended two new requirements, viz;-
(a) that the Detaining Power should take into account the climatic conditions under which prisoners of war were detained;
(b) that uniforms of the forces in which the prisoners of
war were serving when captured, which come into the hands of the Detaining Power, should be used to clothe prisoners of war from those forces.
My Committee recommend approval of the 1947 Geneva Conference of Government Experts regarding olothing, footwear and underwear. (C. R. G. C./M(47)4, Item 31)
253. Canteens. The 1947 Geneva Conference of Government Experts recommended that the existing provisions:-
(a) that there should be canteens in all camps;
(b)
that food commodities and ordinary articles should be available in canteen's at local market prices;
should be maintained; but that the provision in the 1929 Prisoners of War Convention that canteen profits are to be used for the benefit of the prisoners of war, should be expanded by new requirements:-
254.
(0) that the profits should go to a "welfare fund";
(a) that the Camp Leader should have the right to
participate in the management of the canteen and shall sit on the Managing Committee of the "welfare fund"; and have the right to check the account book and be consulted 'about sharing profits;
(e) that "welfare funds" may be used for the benefit of
prisoners of war of the same nationality;
(f)
that the final decision regarding the use of the final balance of "welfare funds" should be for the Detaining Power.
The recommendations referred to in paragraph 253(c) to (f) above are proper to the financial section but have been set out here in order to complete the picture, so far as canteens are concerned.
Committee recommend approval of the recommendations referred to in paragraph 253(o) to (See also paragraphs 108(h) and 114
Page 275
above). Page.275(48), Item 60)
mf(488,
50.
255. F.. article 13 - Hygiene of Camps
-
see Part IV
134
P.«. Article 14 - Medical and Hospital Treatment, etc. - see Part IV
256. 2.. Rapie 27650 £488ical Inspections. Tag24776f488nference of Government experts recommended that this Article should also require regular radioscopy and weighing of prisoners of war. My Committee recommend approval of these recommendations. (C. R. G. C. M(47)4, Item 32)
257. P.W. Article 16
see Part IV P.. Article 17 - Intellectual and Sporting Pursuits
-
Religious Observance
-
- see Part IV
258. P.. Article 18. This Article deals with two distinct questions:-
(a) the responsibility for authority in camps;
(b) the marks of respect to be paid to officers of the
Detaining Power.
With regard to the authority in any camp, the 1947 Geneva Conference of Government Experts recommended: -
259.
(a) that the Commandant must be a commissioned officer of
the Detaining Power (this would stop the practice of putting N.C.Os. in charge of campa);
(b) that the Commandant must be responsible for all the
work detachments belonging to the Camp, as well as for the camp itself;
(c) that he must see that the camp staff and guards are
acquainted with the provisions of the Convention.
Saluting by prisoners of war gave rise to some difficult questions in the last war, and the 1947 Geneva Conference of Government Experts recommended:-
(a)
that prisoners of war should use the salute belonging to their own forces and not that appropriate to the forces of the Detaining Power;
(b) that officers should salute only officers of the
Detaining Power of superior rank (the Final Report of the 1947 Conference issued by the International Red Cross Committee retains the provision that they should also salute officers of the Detaining Power of equal rank);
(c) that officers must salute the Commandant of the camp
whether of superior rank or not.
1260. My Committee recommend approval of the recommendations referred Ito in paragraphs 258 and 259 above. (C. R. G. C./M(48)3, Item 23(a))
261. P.W. Article 19 authorises wearing of badges of rank and decorations by prisoners of war. The 1947 Geneva Conference of Government Experts recommended that badges of nationality should also be covered. My Committee recommend approval of this recommendation. (C. R. G. C./(48)3, Item 23(a))
262. P.W. Article 20
263. F.W. Article 21
264.
Communication of Orders, etc.
see Part IV
Exchange of information about titles and
ranks see Part IV P.N. Article 22 - Officers' orderlies, food and clothing - see Part N
r.d. Article 23 deals with advances of pay by the Detaining Power to officers, the rate of exchange of pay to govern them, and repayment of advances by the officers' own Government
Parag-a_hs Page276+0fb488.
-
see
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