PLANS FOE TRIAL OF WAR CRIMINALS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 42, 19 February 1943, Page 4

PLANS FOE TRIAL OF WAR CRIMINALS

PUNISH THE GUILTY

Surrender To Be Demanded At Time Of Armistice

British Official Wireless Rec. 2.30 p.m. RUGBY, Feb. IS. "Let it be clearly understood and proclaimed all over the world that we British will never seek to take advantage by wholesale mass reprisals against the general body of the German people. We shall maintain the good British principle that only those will be punished who are proved guilty," said Viscount Simon, Lord Chancellor, speaking in London. He defined the guilty as highly placed individuals who inspired and directed monstrous crimes, and those who with cold-blooded ferocity organised and took a definite and responsible part in carrying them out. Lord Simon recalled the fiasco at the end of the last war when, despite treaty clauses, punishment was brought to naught, as the accused could not be apprehended or else got little or no punishment. The United Nations had agreed that provision for the surrender of enemy individuals wanted for trial should, as far as possible, be made at the time of any armistice and not postponed until the final settlement treatj', and they intended to obtain the surrender of the available criminals before the fighting could be regarded as ended. The various Allied Governments had already collected a great deal of information which would be put on the dossier of the United Nations Commission for the investigation of war crimes. In the majority of cases war crimes would best be dealt with either by national courts empowered for the purpose, or military tribunals, which possess the great advantage of speedy action. Britain would be prepared to discuss with the Allies the suggestion of international Courts, but the establishment of these would obviously be attended with great difficulties and delay.