PEACE CHARTER

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25343, 26 October 1945, Page 7

PEACE CHARTER

PROTOCOL NOW SIGNED NEW LEAGUE IN BEING PRESERVATION OF PEACE (Reed. 7.30 p.m) LONDON, Oct. 25 The United Nations organisation came into being today after the deposit of ratification documents from the Ukrainian and White Russian Republics of the Soviet Union. This brings the total deposits to the required number of 29. The Secretary of State, Mr J. F. Byrnes, said the United Nations Charter was now part of the law of the nations. "This is a memorable clay for the pence-loving peoples of all nations," he stated. "The United States will do its utmost in conjunction with the other United Nations to preserve world peace. The people of this earth who yearn for peace must he organised to maintain that peace. This Charter provides the organisation." Mr Byrnes signed the Protocol. The British Minister of State, Mr P. Noel-Baker, arrived in Washington yesterday to discuss the United Nations Organisation and also questions relating to'Unrra. Shortly afterward he had an hour's talk with Mr Byrnes.

QUISLING'S DEATH

SECRECY OF EXECUTION EARLY MORNING SCENE LONDON, Oct. 24 Details of the execution of Vidkun Quisling were given by a Norwegian I'oreign Office spokesman, who emphasised that the information was "strictly unofficial." lie said that the greatest secrecy surrounded the execution. Quisling was awakened in his cell shortly alter 2 a.m. and lie was immediately taken before a firing squad composed of Norwegian military police. The only witnesses were a member of the State Prosecution Office, a clergyman, and the officer who gave the order to fire. The Prosecutor, M. Annaeus Schjoedt, who led the case in Court, and Quisling's defence counsel, M. Bergh, said they were not notified of the execution. Newspapers published the announcement of the execution in one paragraph stating that Quisling was snot "last night." It is reported that Quisling's body will be dissected. Professor Konrad Krohn will s examine the brain and publish a report. Quisling sent a message to the King reaffirming his innocence, but stating that he would not ask for a reprieve. Neither the Supreme Court nor the State Prosecutor recommended a reprieve. The members of Quisling's family have been informed of his execution.

SPIRIT OF HUMILITY GERMAN EVANGELISTS (Reed. 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 25 "We with our people know ourselves united not only in a great company of suffering but also in the solidarity of our guilt." stated a declaration which the British Control Commission announced represented the unanimous opinion of all Churchmen present at the German Evangelical Congress at Stuttgart last week. "With great pain," the declaration continued, "we say that through us endless suffering was brought to many people and countries." The signatories included Pastor Niemoller. "We struggled for many years in the name of Jesus Christ against the spirit which found terrible expression in the National Socialist Regime," it said, "and we accuse ourselves for not being more courageous, for not praying more faithfully and for not believing more joyously. We hope in God that through the common service of the Churches that the spirit of violence and revenge which again today wishes to become more powerful may be brought under control throughout the world." FATE OF MATSON SHIP SUNK BY RAIDER'S PLANE (Heed. 11.50 p.m.) NEW YORK, Oct. 2S A plane launched by a Japanese raider bombed and sank the unarmed Matson Line ship Malama, of 32< 5 tons, which disappeared in January, 1942, 600 miles south-west of Tahiti while en route to Wellington. The chief mate, Mr Gordon Pollard, who has been repatriated after captivity at Shanghai, said the plane warned the crew to abandon ship. Later the raider appeared and picked up the crew and five Army men from the lifeboats. ARMING CIVILIANS SPANISH GOVERNMENT PLAN (Reed. 11.10 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 'ifi The Spanish Government has issued a decree authorising the setting up of groups of armed civilians in Spain. They are to co-operate with the police and will be nncier the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Interior. MORE WAR CRIMINALS BULGARIANS AND ITALIANS (Reed. 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, Oft. '2B The 15th list of war criminals, issued after a meeting of the United Nations War Crimes Commission yesterday, contains the names of *165 Bulgarians and Italians against whom Yugoslavia. Britain and France are bringing charges.' The list will immediately be placed in the hands of the various military agencies 011 the Continent and elsewhere in order that all those wanted may be kept in custody or immediately arrested.

These prisoners, like thousands already listed, will eventually he surrendered to the United Nations for trial.