TRIAL OF WAR CRIMINALS

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24570, 19 May 1945, Page 7

TRIAL OF WAR CRIMINALS

Statement From White House

APPOINTMENT OF PROSECUTOR

{NX Pkm Association—Copyright) (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON. May 16. Mr Charles Ross, White House Secretary, said to-day that in the opinion of the United States Government, the determination of who were the “top” war criminals to tried by an International Court should be left to the prosecuting lawyers. The United States had appointed as its lawyer a Supreme Court Judge, Mr Justice Jackson. It hoped Britain, Russia, and France would appoint their lawyers very soon. Mr Ross said the Yalta conference called for the breaking up of the German General Staff and the bringing of all war criminals to swift punishment The breaking up of the German General Staff was quite different from bringing them to trial as war criminals.

“There is a difference between the tribunal, not yet appointed, and the London Comambm, which is at present sitting** a sort of grand Jury, returning Indictment*.'t; Mid Mr Boss. "Some maynever cometo trial Most of those indicted will under the terms of the. Moscow agreement, be returned to ttf *, country where tile crime* wets . committed. “The international tribamal. aoer being formed, will tty smly major criminals—those whese crimes hare no partionlar lowOtotion, like Himmler and OOerihg, The Washington correspondent of tiie NeW York “Herald-Tribune” says plans for the projected tribunal include the . following;— ... ' .... 1 1. Four prosecutors will use tiie lilts of war criminals and theovidence compiled by the United NatipnsWaT Crimes Commission, but will not be bound .thereby in telootM. fMlor criminals for international' trial ■ ' 2. Each of the participating nations will probably name one judge a* w«I as a prosecutor. Most of tho^Judges are expected to be military men. ■■ 3. The tribunal’s procedure is expert- , ed to be patterned on mihtaryrourtlmartial, ' * ,5. The United States and netitifldtt**,: - tions have been ruled out.or mm l«r . the court, which will probably -mt 'iß - either London or Part*. * £ Prosecutors will co-operate. I&lge: prosecuting a wap' eriiHlMl In-which . It has a particular interest,-. Foe flt- ■ ample, the British might act agllnit Rudolf Hess. . >, ’5, lLi* ~ 7. NO mote than-50 artißjinßf-gtoP, ■ tribunal otfaew wfll tipSpr tarred to lesser war iguilt, lished in compliance i#tti;thejgse«w Pact Those accused of ' citiestided,■■ criminals, Mr Eden said the to his attention and being given to. tile appointment repmeaUtTve ofe a the United Kingdom ' Ws trials tion pf : Allies and little time. The person to berapmSMA > by Britain wouidbe standing with Mr Justice yacleijon, ' .In reply 1 to another quettipa ‘wi, , Eden said that the. hOeromT Or ,th£ * war guilt of wak under, consideration, and according tor; newer • paper reports be bad been arrested.

PRISONER OF ALLIES

BAILLIE-STEWAET CAPTURED

Norman tommt • captain of the Seafortfa Highlanders, who in 1933 ‘ was imprisoned in the Tower of London, casniered jusd .sentenced to five. years’ -nenal. ewwituoe, is now held prisoner inHoUatnd, says the ‘‘Daily M$U." The newspaper add*,. , diet after his release be -went to OB* 1 many with a Nad girl towndrn Juf hid. disclosed military and bfcpgd* cast from Hamburg r , . Lieutenant-Colonel Otte !p*»W*ny, o|f < the Waffen SB., who led the German -r raiding party which rescued Uuaawini in 1944, has been captured; reports flu correspondent of the Associated; Preap with the 7th Army. Skorzeny .**» easily recognised, -because be is 6ft 4ia tall and tie has a. Jjvid sabre scar, . The former world heavy-welghtbOx-ing champion. Max Schmeling, who eras thrice reported killed, was found In , Hamburg by two military policQneQ * of the BSrd Welsh Division, who ate' boxing fans, states Reuter’s correspondent at Hamburg. >• Schmeling said that although fit. he was discharged from the 3rd German Parachute Regiment. Ley, the leader of the German Labour Front told Alpine villagers. With whom he spent the night before his capture: “I do not understand why the Allies want me as a war criminal, but my life's work in helping the German people has been shattered.-so lam ready to die.” Among the prominent Germans recently captured by the 7th Army troops was the actress, Lenl Rieffensfahl, who knew Hitler well. It is officially announced in Rome that Himmler's wife and 15-year-old daughter were recently captured in the Bolzano area. Frau Himmler said die assumed that her husband was killed in Berlin.

FARMERS AND WORLD FOOD PROBLEMS

CONFERENCE IN LONDON IN OCTOBER

(Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON. May 17. Arising from the six months’ tour of New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and the United States by a British farmers’ delegation, an international conference is being convened in London in October, at which world food problems will be discussed, says “The-Times," The delegs tion, reporting to the National Farmers’ Union, says that each overseas conference which the delegation attended emphasised that a solution of the problem of a more equitable dlstributidßbf world food resources lay in intentional co-opera-tion, and that if the ideal of the Hot Springs conference was to enter the realm of practical politics. Governments must have behind them the service -co-operation, and advice of organised agriculture. One of the delegation’s most importsnt discoveries was the desire of farmers everywhere to have the Hot Springs conference’s findings implemented by their Government - The forthcoming conference in Lon- M doh?wili discuss the constitution of the ■ oroposed international federation ox ; ■ farm organisations. . ■