MASTER WAR CRIMINALS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25801, 23 March 1945, Page 5

MASTER WAR CRIMINALS

EXECUTION WITHOUT TRIAL ARCHBISHOP’S SUGGESTION (Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON,. Mar. 22. The execution, without trial, of Nazi master criminals such as Hitler and Himmler and “his gang,” was advocated by the Archbishop of York, Dr Cyril Garbett, speaking in the House of Lords. The archbishop said that the master criminals who had corrupted Germany and ordered hideous cripies should be outlawed, so that there will be no public trial, with its excitement and sensation. He said these people should not be condemned for political offences, but for criminal offences.. Those who caught them should put them to death immediately their identity was established. . . The archbishop said the remaining guilty Germans should be divided into two classes. The first would be those who carried out cruel, savage orders. Some would say that they were acting under orders, but there were some orders which in no circumstances ought to be obeyed. He was thinking of horrible tortures and crimes which no man should commit, however strong the order given him. The other guilty class was the whole of the German people. “We cannot entirely distinguish the ordinary German people from Nazis. They have some share in the guilt. After all they chose Hitler and supported him year after year with the greatest enthusiasm. Doom is already falling on these people. They are seeing the destruction of their homes and cities. This is sufficient punishment. W 6 ought to make it plain that we have no idea of indiscriminate killing.”