NAZI ATROCITIES

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 175, 19 April 1940, Page 10

NAZI ATROCITIES

Protest To Conscience Of The World

JOINT DECLARATION BY ALLIES lltiitisli Official Wireless) RUGBY, April 17. A protest to the conscience of the world against tlie systematic terrorism practised by the Nazis is made in a joint declaration issued in Loudon and Paris by the Governments of Britain, France, and Poland. "Tlie Governments have been profoundly shocked at reports ol crimes against persons mid property committed by lhe German authorities mid the forces in occupation in Poland.” it is stated. "The reports leave no doubt that lhe German Government, which opened the war last September by brutal attacks upon the civil population of Poland in deliaitee of tin; accepted principles of international law. is now bent on destroying not only lives and property but also the cultural and religious existence of the defenceless Polish population at present under its control.

“Further. in violation of Hie Fourth inlermitioniil Convention of The Hague in 1907, Germany has gone so far as io incorporate in tlie Keich the territories of the Polish Republic. though war between Germany mid the three Allied Powers is still continuing. Germany’s policy is deliberately aimed tit the destruction of Hie Polisli nation. "In addi.tion to the persecution of the Poles, there is the atrocious treatment of Jews. This conduct of the German authorities and forces in occupation is a flagrant violation of tlie laws of war. and in particular of Tlie Hague Convention concerning laws and customs of war on land, and the British, French and Polish Governments desire to make a formal public protest to the conscience of the world against the action of Germany for these crimes mid to state their determination to right the wrongs thus inflicted on tlic Polish people.”