PEACE CONGRESS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XII, Issue 1219, 3 June 1919, Page 6

PEACE CONGRESS.

new zealand delegation. brf.achf.s i»f tiik law* ok wail TlllltTY-oNK CLASSKS OK CRIMES. CONFERENCE COMMISSION'S REPORT. (From H. Riley, Ofllcial Journalist.) PARIS. 26th March. The Sub-Commission (flight Hon. \V. F. Massey, chairman > appointed by the Peace Conference Commission on the Responsibility of the Authors of the * War and the Breaches of the Laws nnd ' Customs of War, to investigate questions of fact relating to the enemy's offences against these laws and the fundamental principles of humanity, states In its report that it examined a considerable amount of material submitted to it by the various Allied and Associated Governments in regard to acts of the enemy deemed to be breaches. This material was systematised under the following heads:—

(a) The nature of the offence committed.

(b) The date or approximate date of commission.

c) The place of commission. (d> The persons or authorities responsible. (el Reference to the source whence this information is derived, and where details may be found. Jt was decided to hold back (for obvious reasons) for the present the names of specified individuals. The Sub-Commission explains that it was impracticable to divide the various classes of offences into clearly defined and exclusive categories—for pxample, into those committed under orders conformably to the political or military policy of the enemy, and those committed by enemy forces on their own initiative, not necessarily involving a political or military motive. Eor these reasons the Sub-Commission adopted the simplest and most practical plan of merely enumerating the classes of offences committed —an appalling list which is not regarded as complete and exhaustive, but may be added to from time to time as deemed necessary.

The following*'was the list arrived at in accordance with the facts as detailed in an annexure submitted to the plenary Commission:— 1. Massacre of civilians. 2. Pulling hostages to death. 3. Torture of civilians. k. Deliberate starvation of civilians.

.*». Rape. 6. Abduction of girls and women Tor the purpose of enforced prostitution. 7. Deportation of civilians. K. Internment of civilians under inhuman conditions. !». Forced labour of civilians in connection with the military operations of Ihe enemy, and otherwise. JO. Usurpation of sovreignly during military occupation. 11. Compulsory enlistment of soldiers among the inhabitants of occupied territory.

12. Attempts to denationalise the inhabitants of occupied terrttory. 13. Pillage.

Ji. Confiscation of properly. 13. Exaction of illegitimate or of exorbitant contributions and requisitions.

16. Debasement of the currency, and issue of spurious currency.

17. Imposition of collective penalties. JB. Wanton devastation and destruction of properly. 19. Deliberate bombardment of undefended places. 20. Wanton destruction of reJigious charitable, educational, ami historic buildings and monuments. 21. Destruction of merchant ships and passenger vessels without examination and without warning. 22. Destruction of fishing boats and »f relief ships. 23. Deliberate bombardment of hospitals. 2i. Attack on and destruction of hospital ships. 25. Breach of other rules relating to the Red Cross.

26. Use of deleterious and asphyxiating gases. 27. Use of explosive and expanding bullets, and other inhuman appliances. 28. Directions to give no quarter. 29. 111-treatment of prisoners of war. 30. Misuse of flags of trace. 31. Poisoning of wells.

In view of the fact that the ofTcnces enumerated and the particulars given were not regarded as being complete the Sub-Commission made the following recommendation: — "The Sub-Commission recommends the appointment of a standing committee or other representative body for the purpose of collecting and systematising such Turther information, with a view to laying before a tribunal or tribunals eventually to be set up a comprehensive list of charges and accused persons, subject to the conclusions reached n>" the other Sub-Commis-sion?."