WAR CRIMES

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22612, 17 May 1945, Page 5

WAR CRIMES

INVESTIGATION WORK COLLECTING EVIDENCE OFFICERS IN GERMANY (Official Wireless) (Received May 17, 12.15 p.m.) RUGBY. May 16 A statement issued tonight from the United Nations Crimes War Commission says that as the result of an invitation addressed by the military authorities in Germany to the United Nations War Crimes Commission the Commission has arranged for certain European Governments to send war crimes’ investigation officers to Germany. It will be the duty of these officers to assist the military authorities in the collection of evidence of war crimes, in concentration camps as well as in Germany. The Commission has invited representatives of the national war crimes offices of the member Governments to send representatives to a conference in London. A large number of groups, each composed of ten representatives of the war crimes branch of the judicial section of the United States Army, are carrying out widespread investigation of war crimes by the Germans, states Reuter’s correspondent at Supreme Command. Much information has been gleaned in large scale interrogation of German war prisoners, released Allied war prisoners and civilian “slaves” who worked under German rule. Appointment of Lawyers

A Washington message says the newly appointed White House press secretary, Mr Charles Ross, stated i that in the opinion of the United States Government the determination of who are the top criminals to be tried by the international court should be left to the prosecuting lawyers. The United StateS had appointed as its lawyer a judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Jackson. It hoped that Britain, Russia and France would appoint their lawyers very soon. The Yalta Conference called for the breaking up of the German General Staff and the bringing of all war criminals to swift punishment. Of course, the breaking up of the German general staff was quite different from bringing them to trial as war criminals. There was a difference between a tribunal not yet appointed and the London Commission which was at present sitting as a sort of Grand Jury returning indictments. Some might never come to trial. Most of those indicted would under the terms of the Moscow agreement be returned to the country where the crime was committed. The international tribunal now being formed would try only the major criminals —those whose crimes had no particular geographical localisation like Himmler and Goering. Dr. Ley, leader of the German Labour Front, has been captured 45 miles south of Berchtesgaden. Ley, clad in pyjamas, had a week’s growth of beard when captured. A statement issued at Supreme Command says: Doenitz and certain other selected German officers are being used temporarily to carry out duties in connection with the feeding, disarming and medical care of the German armed forces. They are fully controlled and they are there solely to carry out the instructions of the Allied Commanders. Mr Robert Murphy, American member of the Allied Control Commission, said: “Doenitz is in control of the de facto situation at Flensburg, but Supreme Command does not recognise any German Government. Doenitz is recognised as representing the German High Command, which was permitted to use the radio last Sunday for operational purposes. Supreme Command is using the high command in order to expedite the disarmament and demobilisation of the German Armed Forces, after which there will be complete dissolution of the High Command.”