NORWEGIAN WAR CRIMINALS

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27226, 18 December 1953, Page 15

NORWEGIAN WAR CRIMINALS

AMNESTY SUGGESTED CONFLICTING OPINIONS ON SENTENCES (From a Reuter Correspondent.) OSLO. There are now only 52 Norwegian war criminals, Nazis and Quislings, still serving treason sentences in prisons and prison camps in Norway. Some people consider that the authorities should now “let bygones be bygones” and grant them an amnesty,*but a strong section of the public considers that they should serve their sentences, which with one exception are all for life, and be pardoned only after individual consideration of each case, in accordance with normal practice in the case of ordinary life prisoners. Recently a group of prominent persons, headed by Bishop Kristian Schjelderup, of Hamar, published an appeal which was sent through the Ministry of Justice to the King, asking that “justice should now be tempered with mercy,” and that war-time traitors still held in prison camps should be released.

The appeal for pardon said: "We are thinking of the homes which have had to manage without their men for so long, and we pray that our responsible authorities shall now temper justice with mercy and allow these prisoners to return to their families.”

Publication of this appeal started a widespread press debate on the whole question of whether mercy should be granted or whether they should serve the whole of the sentences passed on them.

Already a large number of the lesser Quislings have been pardoned or had their sentences reduced. Parliament agreed some time ago to a proposal that all those serving terms of eight years or less should have their sentences halved. This meant that a number of the "smaller fry” were released immediately. Since that time a number of pardons have been granted in individual cases, all ot which have been considered separately on their special merits. It is unlikely that any general amnesty will be given to the few remaining war criminals. The Public prosecutor has said that some of the prisoners must be regarded as dangerous. An amnfesty can only be given by Parliament in the form of a special law. Both the Ministry of Justice and the prosecution authorities are against the idea, but the Minister of Justice, Mr Kai Knudsen, has said that the pardon and release of individual prisoners will be considered in the normal manner and, if the- circumstances are considered favourable, each case will be presented to the King in Council at the appropriate time. Some cases were due for consideration at the present time, he said. In each case the man’s behaviour in prison, his home and family circumstances, his chances of making his living and being absorbed into the community again, would be carefully investigated.