LONDON: The Japanese have placed Allied prisoner of war camps close to bombing targets in Japan and Burma in an effort to make targets immune from bombardment, declared Mr. Arthur Henderson, Financial Secretary to War Office, in reply to a question in the Commons today [March 29]…

Mr. Henderson said that article nine of the International Convention regarding treatment of war prisoners precludes the establishment of these camps close to areas or targets liable to bombardment from the air. “I regret to inform the House that the Japanese authorities are not conforming to this principle. Early in 1943 first reports of prisoner of war camps in metropolitan Japan reached this country. We noted with anxiety that many of the camps were situated in dockyards and factory areas of Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka and other cities.

“After consultation with our Allies we presented through the protecting power that these camps should be removed from the areas which constituted important military targets. These representations were renewed on several occasions but without effect. The Japanese have stated that they are always very careful to establish camps outside danger areas but none of the camps of which we have complained have been moved…”

Published in Dawn, March 31st, 2020