Lord Newton announced in the House of Lords on Tuesday
that the whole question of the exchange of prisoners is to be considered afresh. This decision is the sequel to an agreement for an exchange of prisoners concluded by the French Government with Germany, by which about three hundred and thirty thousand men will be affected. Lord Newton said that he did not himself accept the usual War Office point of view that the more ycu exchange prisoners the more you prolong the war. Nevertheless British policy had hitherto been framed on that principle, and so had the policy of France. It was " somewhat of a surprise " to find that an agreement of a far-reaching character has now been entered into between the French and German Governments. We heartily agree with Lord Newton's opinion that probably no military harm will result from an exchange of prisoners on a large scale. Even if we give away far more than we get, we shall not be giving away men who will be very useful to Germany—possibly quite the reverse. As to the surprise which Lord Newton professed, it is necessary to have more information. It is a curious fact, however, that the arrangements for perfect military and political unity at Versailles should have yielded such a surprise.
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