Major General Allen W. Guillion, the Provost Marshall General, explained the treatment of prisoners of war on the "Army Hour" broadcast this week. He explained that the treaty drawn up at Geneva in 1929 governs such treatment. The United States, Germany and Italy ratified the treaty, but Japan did not.

Gen. Guillion further stated representatives of Switzerland have made frequent visits to the prison camps where Germany and Italy hold our men as prisoners of war. Over 125 reports from these representatives assure us that both Germany and Italy are complying with the treaty and are treating our men well.

"The history of war shows that retaliation upon prisoners should never be employed without positive proof that our enemy had been mis-treating our prisoners. Otherwise rumor races with rumor in each of the belligerent countries, the spin of cruelty ascends and prisoners suffer without any compensation gain."

"What I have said applies not only to corporal punishment but also to matters as food, lodging and pay. At first blush, it would seem very reasonable not to permit the prisoners of war in our hands to have the full army ration while hard working civilians in the immediate vicinity, under the political system have less. But the treaty requires that prisoners be given the same rations that our soldiers enjoy. Should we begin to deviate from that treaty requirement, not only the Japanese, but also the Germans would immediately retaliate and our boys in enemy hands would be given ersse food and very little of that.

"I know that the American people understanding these facts, will appreciate the reasons why prisoners in our hands are being treated kindly, though firmly, and that kindness in no way indicates weakness or sentimentality."