PEACE CONGRESS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12636, 22 May 1919, Page 5

PEACE CONGRESS

HEW ZEALAND DELEGATION. BREACHES OF THE LAWS OF WAR. INDICTMENT OF GERMANY. AN HISTORICAL DOCUMENT, (I'rom R. RILEY. Official Journalist,} , . PARIS, March 26. The laborious work of t-ho lutor-Al-hed Commission oil Breaches of the Laws of Avar involved a general historical survey of the events which lei. to the outbreak of the World war. in' 191,4, and t of the unparalleled enemy ■ crimes which marked its tremendous’ sweep during four ruinous years. The' Commission’s conclusions represent 1 E terrible indictment of Germany and hei v allies. The Commission was appointed by,the' plenary Peace Conference at its third session in January, and its composition' was made Up as follows:—Two representatives apiece from the five Great 1 owers, and five representatives elected by the other Powers. The nations re-, presented were The British Empire.’ America, France, Italy,, J apart, Belgium China, Serbia, Rumania, Grace aha Poland. The tofnis of reference of tbo Commission Were as follows:*— ■ That the Commission inquire into and report- upon the following (.1) The responsibility of the authors of the war, (2) The facts as to breaches of tbo laws and customs of war committed by tbo_ forces of the German Empire-,and their allies on land, on sea and in the air during the present War. (3) The degree of responsibility foe these offences attaching to particularmembers of the German forces, inducting members of the General Staffs, and other individuals, however highly placed. W) The constitution and procedure of a tribunal appropriate to the trial of these offences. (0) Any other matters cognate or, ancillary to the above which may a-riso in the course of tine inquiry and which the Commission finds it useful and relevant to take into consideration. Iho first meeting of the Commission Waa held on February 3, when it wasi decided to appoint three sub-commis-siohs, one to 'investigate questions of tact, and two to investigate questions of law. ( The British representatives on the main Gum mission were the Rtehi Hon Sir Gordon Howart, K.O.M.P "ofcthe Riwht Hon Sir Ernest Pollock, Soli-citor-General, and the Right Hon W. F. Massey, Prime Minister of New ZeaA : ' land. Mr Massey was appointed to the Sub-. Coiiimisiou on Facte, and presided over its numerous meetings with, as stated by the London “ Times,” “ great ■ .shrewdness and practical sagacity.” The Paris “Daily Mail,” in referring..’ to tile work or the Commission, Observed that at tiie final meeting of the Drafting Committee (of which also.Mr.,! Massey was chairman) of the Sub-Com-nlissicm special reference was made tei the Prime Minister of. New,: Zealand.'" who was accorded a cordial vote' et • thanks for the courtesy and ability with '(vhich he had conducted the meetings," and that members of the Obmmissieii had appreciated Mr Massey’s practical views of matters of policy and-.: Kir directness of method and shrewd iudg. went, , It may be stated that owing to thb necessity for the British Attorney-Gen-era! and tho Solicitor-General attend-'■ st' s’ I’ ;a! 'ihimentary duties in London; ’ Mr Massey, as a member of the main. Commission and as chairman of the fcnb-Commission and: ite Drafting Com* mittee, had much work to do. It ia • therefore a matter for satisfaction in New Zealand that independent critics have expressed appreciation of his ser- : vices, which involved laborious research ■ and much tedious work. The Sub-Coin* mission held ten meetings, the Draftme Committee met oh four occasions, while the main Commission assembled almost daily for a fortnight Imfore their final report had been Completed. The result is certainly a remarkable historical document, covering a wide field rf crimes against the laws of war and the principles of humanity, ~ , Tlio report of the S'ub-Conimission.oh" facts was incorporated iV the plenary re.vort of the Commission practically without alteration. The Siib-ComnnV sion eliminated from serious consideration all weak or obviously exaggerated evidence and allegations, and fiasco their important conclusions on facts sufficiently well established. Tills procedure made, their indictment of Germany and her allies all the more terrible in Its gravitv and unparalleled, extent. The Sub-Commission reported that, having regard to authenticated particulars relative to the inception of the war on the one hand and the conduct of hostilities on the other, they felt- justified In drawing and submitting the following conclusions as facts established: (1) Tim war was premeditated by the Central Powers together with their allies. Turkey and Bulgaria, and was the result of acts deliberately committed in order to make it unavoidable. (2) The nentralitv of Belgium and Luxemburg was deliberately violated. (3) Acts of .aggression were .committed without warning in a, number cf places nn Fiencb territory. (4) The war was carried on bv the Central Empires together with their allies, Turkov and Bulgaria, by barharops or illegitimate methods in violation of the established laws and cus-’ toms of war and the elementary principles of humanity. ' , ' On the cniestlon of the responsibility of the authors of the wap. and violations of neutrality, the Sub-Commission state that they examined many documents relating to the commencement, of the wm-M-War and to the violations of neutrality which 'accompanied its incention. The facts justified the following conclusion (a) That Austria-Hungary plotted with Germany in order te Pender - a conflict with Revlon unavoidable: that ■ Germany supported the Austrian policy; fullv oonseion-s of the consequences it would entail and defeated all attempts on the part of the Entente Bowers to bring about a peaceful settlement- of the, oiie«t,'on at Issue; that Turkey connived at -and approved of the proceedings of the Contea! Powers, and prepared for her ultimate participation ; n wav lay nlncin-r bar land and sen. forces umter German leadership; that Bnl-: ga j-ia whilst carrying on negotiations with the Entente Powers, had entered into a sai-ret understanding with Her- ‘ manv. which culminated in a treacher-,' mis attack on Rerbla. GO and that the neutralite of Belgium and Luxemburg was deliberately and flagrantly violated, In mv next article T shall review the conclusions of the. Ruh-Cnnimisoion in, vef-wenee to offences against the haws and customs of War and the principles of humanitv.