AXIS WAR CRIMES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 307, 9 October 1942, Page 4

AXIS WAR CRIMES.

UNITER NATIONS INVESTIGATE. LONDON, Oct. 7. Britain and the United States are to investigate war atrocities and wherever possible fix the guilt on the individuals responsible, so that they may be dealt with -after the war. This has been announced jointly in London and Washington. •In the House of Lords the Lord Chancellor (Viscount Simon) said that a United Nations commission would be set up to make the investigations. Every atrocity would be looked into. Organised atrocities in' occupied France would also be investigated. It was not proposed to carry out mass executions, but to seek out the person or persons responsible, and to fix the crimes on them. They would b& caught and handed over for justice immediately on the signing of the armistice. There would be no waiting until the peace treaties were signed.

Lord Moyne referred to “the gloomy maniac, Hitler, and liis blood-soaked Gestapo.” Lord Cecil said that the retribution which everyone in the occupied' territories demanded must be carried out. "The successful close of the war shall include provision for the surrender! of war criminals to -a United Nations commission,” said Mr Roosevelt in a statement in Washington. The President added: “The United States is prepared to co-operate with the British and other governments in establishing a United Nations commisIsion for the investigation of Axis war crimes with the intention of inflicting just punishment on the ringleaders responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent persons and other 'atrocities. With a view to establishing responsibility for these crimes, all the available evidence will be collected and assessed.”, , j The statement said that the United Nations did • not intend to resort to mass reprisals.

The President’s secretary (Mr Stephen Early) did not answer a reporter’s question whether Hitler and Mussolini were two -of the ring-lead-ers whose surrender would be required. ' •