Lord Newton announced in the House of Lords on Wednesday
that no word had yet been received from the German Government as to whether they intended to ratify the recent arrangement as to prisoners of war. This is intensely disappointing. It is also, as Lord Newton said, incomprehensible. There was no question here of victory or defeat as between the British and German represen- tatives. It was simply a reciprocal arrangement, long overdue, to improve thelot of prisoners of war. The motive of the Mission which Lord Newton successfully led in the face of a ridiculous opposition inspired by suspicion was purely humane. If the arrangement should be ratified, it would benefit German prisoners equally with our own. We are glad to know that we are acting provisionally in certain respects as though Germany actually had ratified the arrangement. If ratification should not come, the prisoners concerned would cease to receive the benefits, and one more charge of callousness would have to be recorded against Germany. Whatever happens, we have done our best, and great credit for a politically brave act of mercy belongs to Lord Newton.
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