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prisoners of war should have the right to send telegrams.

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289. My Committee recommend that the United Kingdom delegation to a future International Conference. should support the recommendations referred to in paragraphs 287 and 288 above. (See also paragraphs 125, 134 and 138 above). (C. R. G. C. /M(46)1, Items 5 and 6 and 3. R. G. CPAge 81 ☎f886, 17 and 18)

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290. There is much to be said for including in the Prisoners of War Convention specific provision for sending standard telegraphio messages on the lines which National Red Cross Societies were developing towards the end of the Second World War, and which operated reasonably effectively, for civilian internees. No specific recommendation on the subject was made by the 1947 Geneva Conference of Government Experts; but more may be heard of this suggestion at a future International Conference, and I suggest that the United Kingdom delegation should examine any proposal in this direction with sympathy, as well as care.

291. P.W. Article 39 deals with the right of prisoners of war to receive books; but recognises that they must be submitted to censorship. The 1947 Geneva Conference of Government Experts recommended that this Article should cover also Articles required for religious service, musical instruments, games, equipment and materials required for study or art work and scientific equipment. All these things were, in fact, sent to British prisoners of war in Germany and Italy through the British Red Cross War Organisation during the Second World War, but this would formally authorise what, in practice, was done. Specific mention is not made of examination papers and it might be desirable to include these. Many British prisoners of war in Europe acquired recognised educational and professional qualifications, through passing examinations whilst they were prisoners of war. by Committee accepted these recommendations.

292. P.W. Article 40 deals with censorship of correspondence. The 1947 Geneva Conference of Government Experts recommended that prisoners of war correspondence, etc., should be censored only in the sending and receiving stages, and not in the intermediate stages (e.g. by neutrals). The Government of India delegate proposed that where belligerents had not a sufficient number of interpreters in any language they should seek to obtain additional censors from neutral countries or from the International Red Cross Committee. The representative of the Security Service advised my Committee that this proposal should be strongly resisted. My Committee accepted the recommendation of the

Conference and recommend that the proposals of the Government of India · should be resisted. (C. R. G. C./M (47)3, Item 19).

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293. P.W. Article 41 Transmission of Legal Documents and wills see Part IV

P.W. Article 42 - Rights to make complaints see Part IV P.W. Article 43 - Appointment and duties of Camp Leaders

Part IV

see

P.W. Article 44 -Further provisions regarding Camp Leaders - see Part IV

294.

Disciplinary and Judicial Provisions - General. General.

Articles 45

to 67 of the 1929 Prisoners of War. Convention deal with Discipline and Judicial proceedings and punishments; and the major questions arising thereon have already been considered in paragraphs 96 to 104 above. The 1947 Geneva Conference of Government Experts recommended that these Articles should be re-arranged, and my Committee, on the advice of the Sub-Committee referred to in paragraph 96 above, have accepted this recommendation, and themselves recommend an expansion and re-arrangement of the whole chapter. To make their recommendations intelligible it is necessary to deal with this chapter in the new order and not in the order of the Articles of the 1929 Convention. The number of the corresponding Article in the 1929 Convention is shown in brackets after the new number of the Article now recommended and to facilitate reference a comparative table of Articles, showing their numbers in the 1929 Prisoners of War

Convention and as now recommended is given in paragraph