WAR CRIMINALS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 238, 8 October 1942, Page 5

WAR CRIMINALS

JUST PUNISHMENT Axis Ringleaders Must Be Surrendered After War Rec. 11.30 a.m. LONDON. Oct. 7. The successful close of the war shall include provision for the surrender of war criminals to a I,'nited Nations commission, said President Roosevelt in a statement, in Washington. He added that the United Stales was prepared to co-operate with the British and other Governments in establishing a United Nations commission 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 for other atrocities, with a view to establishing responsibilitv for these misdeeds. All the available evidence will be collected and assessed.

ihe statement said the United Nations did not intend to resort to mass reprisals.

The President's secretary. Mr. Stephen Farly, did not answer a reporters' question whether Hitler and Mussolini were two of the ringleaders whose surrender would be required.

In announcing the raid on Sark Island to-day, the Germans made accusations against Britain regarding the treatment of German prisoners taken at Dieppe and threatened as a reprisal that the 2500 British and Canadian officers and men captured at Dieppe would be put in chains.

The War Office, in a statement, said inquiries had been made after the Dieppe raid. All the Germans captured were interrogated and unanimously declared that, they had not had their hands tied, as alleged in Berlin, but had been given humane treatment. Any of them could be seen by representatives of the German protecting Power. Switzerland, who could confirm this. If the Germans carried out their threat the British would have to consider what future course should be adopted.

German prisoners of war in Britain total 23.000. and the number of British prisoners in German hands is DO.OOO. The total of Italian prisoners in British camps is 2G2.000.

Britain and the United States .are keeping track of war atrocities committed by the Germans, and the perpetrators. irrespective of rank, are to be punished. A statement to this effect has been made both in London and Washington.

Viscount Simon, Lord Chancellor, told the House of Lords to-day that the Government planned to set up a united commission to investigate war crimes, and the persons responsible would be named. Organised atrocities by the Germans in occupied France were also being investigated.

Viscount Cecil said the individuals responsible for these horrible crimes in the countries of Europe should be dealt with as criminals and should be handed over as a condition of an armistice, without waiting until the signing of the peace treaty. They should include "that maniac Hitler" and Mussolini. Retribution for Nazi brutality throughout the whole of Europe must be satisfied.

It is reported from Moscow that group workers were recently arrested in a munition factory at Hirtc-nburg. in Austria, after German inspectors had condemned a large consignment of shells. Those arrested, despite a threat or shooting, refused to betray the saboteurs. Unknown men spoilt a large quantity of explosives in another Austrian factory.

Yugoslav circles in London report that the Germans shot SO Serbs at Zemun, near Belgrade, in the middle of September, after a German hangar at the local aerodrome was blown up.