1. War Cabinet today reviewed the whole question and affirmed our
previous decision that Australian servicemen liberated from
captivity as a result of the Soviet advances should not be made
available for labour service even on a voluntary basis.

2. Labour on a voluntary basis would probably lead to invidious
distinctions and might well produce special anomalies. Reports
recently received indicate the very serious effect from the point
of view of both mental and physical fitness of prisoners who have
long been in German hands. We do not feel that any of them should
be submitted either to the strain of labour after their liberation
or to the necessity of making individual decisions which would
differentiate them from their comrades.

3. We must call attention to the terms of your D.227 [1] which
contemplates exclusion of Australian prisoners of war and
civilians from the proposed agreement in certain circumstances.

This suggestion seems to us hardly a proper one because as you
have charge of the negotiations we have no alternative but to rely
on you for securing proper treatment of all Australian service
personnel who may come into the hands of the Soviet Command.

4. We feel very strongly that Australian prisoners should be
included in the first priority for immediate return to their
homeland where as you know our war needs are great and urgent.