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Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume X, Issue 45, 5 February 1920, Page 4

While, as has been suggested above, it seems quite possible that the provisions of. the Versailles Peace for the trial of the exKaiser may be entirely frustrated through America’s failure to ratify, the trial of those of inferior rank accused of war crimes stands on quite a different footing. The articles of the Treaty bearing on this subject are those numbered 228-230, and by these the German Government recognises the right of the Allied and Associated Powers to bring before military tribunals persons accused of having committed acts in violation of the laws and customs of war. This provision is to hold notwithstanding that tne accused may already have beeu prosecuted before and punished by a tribunal in Germany or t in the territory of any of her allies. The accused, if found guilty, are to be sentenced to “punisnmenw raid down by law.” In connection with these prosecutions each Allied tion can proceed separately, both in the matter of demanding the surrender of the persons accused and in trying them. Persons charged with criminal acts asrainst the nationals of one of the or Associated Powers are to be brought before the military tribunals oi that Power. Where the charges extend to offences committed against the nationals of more than one of the Allied and Associated Powers the accused may be brought before joint military tribunals composed of members of the military tribunals of the Powers concerned. In order to facilitate the initiation and conduct of these proceedings the German Government undertakes to furnish documents and information of every kind, “the production of which may be considered necessaiy to ensure full knowledge of the incriminating acts, the discovery of offenders, and the just appreciation of responsibility.” We.may therefore expect that the trial* of these persons will proceed without any very serious delay, beyond that involved in setting up the appropriate tribunals. . < •