Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-19
Representatives Of ]. S,
TO VISIT PRISON CAMPS
Arrangement Is Entered Into by
Great Britain, Germany and
Austria,
WILL DISTRIBUTE
r. SUPPLIES
Agreements Based Upon Recommen-
datfons I'm Report by Former Coun-
seior Anderson-Stnte Department
Makes Statement.

! " ASflNGTON, March lS.-An ar
ranEement between Great Britain and
Germany and Austria. by which repre-
sentatives OF the United States will in
spect and report upon allen prison
camps In those countries and distribute
10 prisoners supplies from their own
countries or other sources, was an
nounced tonight by the state Depart
ment. and it was stated that, through
the good offices Of the American gov
eminent, similar arrangements were
under contemplation between Russia
ana France and Germany and Austria.
ihe agreements AFRO based upon
recommendations I'm n report by Chand-
| Ter Il. Anderson, formerly counselor Of
! the State Department, who conferred
with the Foreign Offices of Great Brit
ain. Germany and Austria last NOvem
| Der. ana visited some of the detention
, camps in those countries
DEPARTMENTS STATEMENT
| CONCERNING AGREEMENT
| The departments statement. in part
| follows:
! Through the good Offices OF the
United States. All arrangement; has
/ been entered Into between Great Brit
am and Germany and Austria Hungary.
and similar arrangement is under
contemplation between Germany and
uStria-Hungary and Russia and
! France, by which representatives. OF
/ the United States In these countries
VIII be authorized TO inspect and re-
port upon prisoners camps and dis
tribute 10 the prisoners the supplies
from their own government and from
other sources.
The basis of this arrangement Is
! briefly as follows:
20 Each OF the belligerent govern
ments undertakes TO furnish for the in
( formation OF the others complete
statement of its policy with regard to
the treatment of prisoners, with full
details showing the supplies furnished,
and the conditions OF their life during
internment, supplemented by copies of
orders and instructions issued to the
commandments OF the prisoners camps
"'2) The beiligerent governments
Will permit the representatives of the
United States in each country to have
access 10 the prisoners, and will allow
The prisoners to furnish statements
about their treatment. the conditions
! OF life. and requirements which they
! wish TO have communicated to their
4 own government.
UNITED STATES ASSUMES
! NO RESPONSIBILITY
It is understood that the United
( states in undertaking this work AS
; sumes no responsibility OF any kind
| beyond the mere transmission OF the
| statements and the distribution of sun
plies furnished. above indicated. in
accordance with such restrictions and
regulations as are imposed by the gov
/ ernments concerned
IN ADDITION to the arrangements
mus adopted. these governments have
under consideration further arrange
mcnts for the exchange and release of
detailed enemy aliens. which arrange
ments and the respective positions OF
the belligerent governments with re-
| spect thereto are understood to be as
follows:
! 81. The German and Austro-Hun
earian governments are prepared to
! agree 70 the reciprocal release of
| civilians over the age for compulsory
| military service under their respective
! laws, which in Germany is forty-fve
years and in Austria Hungary, FORTY
two years of age. The British govern
ment has refused as yet to reduce
F., the age below ffty-hvc In the case Of
Germany and nifty in the case OF aus
! tria- Hungary, but this question has
been under consideration and NAV he
| reconsidered
%. Both sides have expressed a will
!nsness to agree to an exchange. man
! for man, Of civilians OF military age
on the lists to be proposed on each
side for the approval of the other.
3. Tho British and German govern
4 To III.
| visions Of articles 8 and of the elev
cnth Hague convention Of 1907, regard
ing the crews of enemy merchant shios
has been difference between the two
! governments as to the meaning OF thcs.
provisions.
! GOVERNMENTS DISAGREE
on INTERPRETATION
/ The German government interpret
! these articles as meaning that the
| crews Of captured ships are no; ONLY
! to be released from imprisonment. but
permitted to return to their own coun-
try without hindrancc IL they so desire
under parole against employment in
any service connected with the opera
tons Of the war.
The British government, on the
other hand. interpret these provisions
AS merely requiring the liberation on
Parole IN Great Britain OF the crews
or captured merchant ships under the
reservation that subsequently they will
be treated no more favorably than
other Germans residing in Great Brit
} ain.
vt Is understood that the British
government are re-examining these pro.
visions III the light Of the meaning
attributed to them by the German gov
crnmcnt.
This question has not arisen be-
tween Great Rritain and Austria Hun.
} gary MS those two governments reached
an agreement at the beginning Of the
war releasing each others merchant
ahips ana crews. and very few have
sinc" been captured
Inc arrangements made by France
IL Il .L-.... .--i-