Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, General, Volume I

740.00116 E.W./8–344

Document No. C.36, 24 July, 1944: Suggestions by Committee II Regarding Co-operation With General Eisenhower’s Headquarters⁶⁷

July 24, 1944

Certain quarters in London and even some newspapers in London have been informed that the Nazis are preparing a big organisation for the purpose of helping Nazi war criminals to escape. False documents are already being fabricated and other measures being taken for this purpose.

The United Nations War Crimes Commission had realised this danger. We have recommended two measures to the Governments for the purpose of ensuring the arrest of war criminals: firstly the establishment of a War Crimes Office attached to the Commander-in-Chief’s Headquarters, and secondly the internment of the S.S. and the Gestapo. But we must realise that the United Nations Governments are not an executive body authorised and able to carry out decisions. An example is the fate of the enquiry concerning the extermination of Jews which the Commission on May 30th asked the Chairman to address to the Foreign Office. Up to date no reply has been received.

The only body capable of action is the Supreme Command of the expeditionary forces in Europe, i.e. General Eisenhower’s Headquarters.

We understand that the Chairman of the Commission, together with Mr. Pell and General de Baer, have had informal informative talks about collaboration between the War Crimes Commission and General Eisenhower’s Headquarters. We are all convinced that without direct and close collaboration between the Commission and those headquarters the work of the Commission will be a failure.

We understand that there are already liaison officers at General Eisenhower’s Headquarters for all kinds of business but there is no liaison officer for the punishment of war criminals. It is believed that the establishment of collaboration between the Commission and General Eisenhower’s Headquarters, and especially the establishment of a War Crimes Office, is possible only through the combined Chiefs of Staffs in Washington. We feel confident that the combined Chiefs of Staffs will accept our offer of collaboration and that they will give appropriate instructions to General Eisenhower. The elaboration of detailed schemes would be the task of General Eisenhower’s Headquarters and of our Commission here in London, but General Eisenhower must have at least a general authorisation for the purpose from the combined Chiefs of Staffs.

In view of the fact that the war is approaching its end, and especially in view of recent events in Germany, Committee II asks the Commission to take immediate steps to establish direct and close cooperation with General Eisenhower’s Headquarters, and to submit through the British Foreign Office to the combined Chiefs of Staffs the Commission’s recommendations concerning:

a) Establishment of a War Crimes Office;

b) Internment of the S.A., S.S. and Gestapo;

c) Establishment of permanent collaboration through a liaison officer between the Commission and General Eisenhower’s Headquarters.

67. Transmitted to the Department by the American Representative on the United Nations War Crimes Commission in despatch 17273, August 3, 1944; received August 9. For additional information regarding these suggestions by Committee II, see History of the United Nations War Crimes Commission, p. 357.