The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-03-19

resentatives of the United States will inspect and report upon alien prison camps in those countries ,and dis tribute to prisoners supplies from their own governments or other sources, was announced last night by the state department. At the same time it was stated that through the good offices of the American govern ment similar arrangements were un- der contemplation between Russia and France and Germany and Aus trda-Hungary.
 These agreements are based upon recommendations contained in a. re- port, by Chandler P. Anderson, for partment, who conferred with the foreign offices of Great Britain, Ger many and Austria-Hung last No venaber and visited some of the de- tentfon canpssin those countries.
 Adr. Anderson also reported on the exercise of good offices of the United States to bring about better un- 5derBtand1ng among the European bel1lgerents regarding the reparation of civilian prisoners. In this con- nect1on it is announced that Great Brdtafn and Germany and Austria Hungary have expressed a willing ness to exchange man for man, de-. teined enemy civilians of military age, while an arrangement for the release of civilians of non-nnilitary' age has been held up so far by Great Br1tain's refusal to agree to the age limits proposed.
 The Departments statement fol- lows:
 Through the good offices of the government of the United States an arrangement has been entered into between Great Britain and Germany. and Austria-Hungary, and similar arrangement is under contemplation between Germany and Austria-Hun- gary and Russia. and France, by which the representatives of the United States in these countries will be authorized to inspect and report upon prisoners camps and distribute to the prisoners the supplies from their own governments and from oth- CT sources.
 'arhe basis Of this arrangement is briefly:
 et1.-Each of the bell1gerent gov ernm ents undertakes to furnish for the information of the others a com plete statement of it's policy with re- gard to the treatment of prisoners, with full details showing the supplies furnished and the conditions of their life during interment. supplemented by copies of orders and instructions issued from time to time to the camps.
 '2.+The belligere1t governments will permit the representatives of the United States in each country to have access to 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 own government.
 "It is understood that the govern ment of the United States in under taking this work assumes no respon- sibilfty of any kind beyond the mere transmission of the statements and the distribution of supplies furnish ed, as above indicated, in accordance
 with such restrictions and regulations as are imposed by the governments concerner.
 F'These arrangements are based up on arrangements contained in a re- port made at the end of November to the Department of State by the Hon. Chandler P. Anderson, formerly counsellor for the Department. who early in November discussed the sub ject with the foreign offices of Great Britain, Germany and Austria-Hun- gary and visited detention camps in those countries.
 A'EThe good offices of the United States were exercised. at the same | time to bring about a better under standing among the be1ligerents in regard to the repatriation of civilian | 1 tries.
 MT Anderson's report shows that these governments had then agreed not to detain any women or chill dren, or males under IT or over 55,
 between Great Britain and Germany,
 or under IS or over 50 between l Great Britain and AuStrian-Hun- gary, or physicians or clergymen
 unless some special reason justified l detention in individual cases. l Both sides agreed to arrange fog the reciprocal release of all civilians
 physically disqualified for military
 service.
 Tn addition to the arrangements
 thus adopted. these governmen ent<
 have under consid eration further air
 engagements for the exchange and
 release of detained enemy aliens which arrangements. and the respec-
 tive positions of the belligerent gov.
 ernments with respect thereto arc un- derstood to be as follows: t1.-The German and Austro-Hun
 garfan governments are prepared tS
 agree to the reciprocal release of civ
 ilians over the age for compulsor. military service under their respec tive laws, which in Germany is Al years and in Austria-Hungary 4i years of age. The British govern
 ment have refused as yet to reduc, the age below 55 in the case of Ger
 many, and 50 in the case of Austria
 Hungary, but this question has beer
 under consideration and may be. re considered.
 "2.-Both sides have expressed willingness to agree to an exchange man for man, of civilians of militar. I age on lists to be proposed on eacl } side for the approval of the other 3.-The British and German gov 1 ernmentS are disposed to observe tn, 2 provisions of Articles and of tn Eleventh Hague Convention of 1907 5 regarding the crews of enemy mer chant ships captured by a beIIigerent s but there has been 8 difference be q tween the two governments as to tn ! meaning of these provisions. The German governments inter bret these arfieIeSs as meaning ths