Section 34p. 34

PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL LAW COMPENDIUM VOLUME II

through the intermediary of the Protecting Powers and

likewise of the Central Agency provided for in Article 123.

This information shall make it possible quickly to advise

the next of kin concerned. Subject to the provisions of

Article 17, the information shall include, in so far as

available to the Information Bureau, in respect of each

prisoner of war, his surname, first names, rank, army,

regimental, personal or serial number, place and full date

of birth, indication of the Power on which he depends,

first name of the father and maiden name of the mother,

name and address of the person to be informed and the

address to which correspondence for the prisoner may be

sent.

The Information Bureau shall receive from the various

departments concerned information regarding transfers,

releases, repatriations, escapes, admissions to hospital,

and deaths, and shall transmit such information in the

manner described in the third paragraph above.

Likewise, information regarding the state of health of

prisoners of war who are seriously ill or seriously wounded

shall be supplied regularly, every week if possible.

The Information Bureau shall also be responsible for

replying to all enquiries sent to it concerning prisoners of

war, including those who have died in captivity; it will

make any enquiries necessary to obtain the information

which is asked for if this is not in its possession.

All written communications made by the Bureau shall be

authenticated by a signature or a seal.

The Information Bureau shall furthermore be charged

with collecting all personal valuables, including sums in

currencies other than that of the Detaining Power and

documents of importance to the next of kin, left by

prisoners of war who have been repatriated or released, or

who have escaped or died, and shall forward the said

valuables to the Powers concerned. Such articles shall be

sent by the Bureau in sealed packets which shall be

accompanied

by

statements

giving

clear

and

full

particulars of the identity of the person to whom the

articles belonged, and by a complete list of the contents

of the parcel. Other personal effects of such prisoners of

war shall be transmitted under arrangements agreed

upon between the Parties to the conflict concerned.

Art 123. A Central Prisoners of War Information Agency

shall be created in a neutral country. The International

Committee of the Red Cross shall, if it deems necessary,

propose to the Powers concerned the organization of

such an Agency.

The function of the Agency shall be to collect all the

information it may obtain through official or private

channels respecting prisoners of war, and to transmit it as

rapidly as possible to the country of origin of the prisoners

of war or to the Power on which they depend. It shall

receive from the Parties to the conflict all facilities for

effecting such transmissions.

The High Contracting Parties, and in particular those

whose nationals benefit by the services of the Central

Agency, are requested to give the said Agency the

financial aid it may require.

The foregoing provisions shall in no way be interpreted as

restricting the humanitarian activities of the International

Committee of the Red Cross, or of the relief societies

provided for in Article 125.

Art 124. The national Information Bureaux and the Central

Information Agency shall enjoy free postage for mail,

likewise all the exemptions provided for in Article 74, and

further, so far as possible, exemption from telegraphic

charges or, at least, greatly reduced rates.

Art 125. Subject to the measures which the Detaining

Powers may consider essential to ensure their security or

to meet any other reasonable need, the representatives of

religious

organizations,

relief

societies,

or

any

other

organization assisting prisoners of war, shall receive from

the said Powers, for themselves and their duly accredited

agents, all necessary facilities for visiting the prisoners, for

distributing relief supplies and material, from any source,

intended for religious, educational or recreative purposes,

and for assisting them in organizing their leisure time

within the camps. Such societies or organizations may be

constituted in the territory of the Detaining Power or in

any other country, or they may have an international

character.

The Detaining Power may limit the number of societies

and organizations whose delegates are allowed to carry

out

their

activities

in

its

territory

and

under

its

supervision, on condition, however, that such limitation

shall not hinder the effective operation of adequate relief

to all prisoners of war.

The special position of the International Committee of the

Red Cross in this field shall be recognized and respected

at all times.

As soon as relief supplies or material intended for the

above-mentioned purposes are handed over to prisoners

of war, or very shortly afterwards, receipts for each

consignment, signed by the prisoners' representative,

shall be forwarded to the relief society or organization

making the shipment. At the same time, receipts for

these

consignments

shall

be

supplied

by

the

administrative authorities responsible for guarding the

prisoners.

Part VI. Execution of the Convention

Section I. General Provisions

Art 126. Representatives or delegates of the Protecting

Powers shall have permission to go to all places where

prisoners

of

war

may

be,

particularly

to

places

of

internment, imprisonment and labour, and shall have

access to all premises occupied by prisoners of war; they

shall also be allowed to go to the places of departure,

passage

and

arrival

of

prisoners

who

are

being

transferred. They shall be able to interview the prisoners,

and in particular the prisoners' representatives, without

witnesses, either personally or through an interpreter.

Representatives and delegates of the Protecting Powers

shall have full liberty to select the places they wish to visit.

The duration and frequency of these visits shall not be

restricted. Visits may not be prohibited except for reasons

of imperative military necessity, and then only as an

exceptional and temporary measure.

The Detaining Power and the Power on which the said

prisoners of war depend may agree, if necessary, that

compatriots of these prisoners of war be permitted to

participate in the visits.

The delegates of the International Committee of the Red

Cross shall enjoy the same prerogatives. The appointment

of such delegates shall be submitted to the approval of

the Power detaining the prisoners of war to be visited.

Art 127. The High Contracting Parties undertake, in time

of peace as in time of war, to disseminate the text of the

present

Convention

as

widely

as

possible

in

their

respective countries, and, in particular, to include the

study thereof in their programmes of military and, if

possible, civil instruction, so that the principles thereof

may become known to all their armed forces and to the

entire population.

Any military or other authorities, who in time of war

assume responsibilities in respect of prisoners of war,

must possess the text of the Convention and be specially

instructed as to its provisions.

Art 128. The High Contracting Parties shall communicate

to one another through the Swiss Federal Council and,

during hostilities, through the Protecting Powers, the

official translations of the present Convention, as well as

the laws and regulations which they may adopt to ensure

the application thereof.

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