740.00116 E.W./7–2944: Airgram
The American Representative on the United Nations War Crimes Commission (Pell) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 1—2 p.m.]
A–928. Personal for the Secretary.
My Dear Mr. Secretary: I have already in telegram number 5986, July 27, reported that the Publicity Committee of the War Crimes Commission will have a press conference on Thursday, August 3rd. It is issuing a statement on the work of the Commission and includes a reference to the fact that the Commission has so far not received from the various governments the authorization to handle the question of offences committed by the Axis authorities on Axis nationals because of race, religion or political conviction. This, of course, includes Jews in Hungary, about whom you made an excellent and clear statement a few days ago,72 and also many Catholic and Protestant organizations, and a few individuals of Czech or Polish origin resident in and citizens of Germany.
On May 31st Sir Cecil Hurst, Chairman of the War Crimes Commission, sent a letter to Mr. Eden, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs,73 a copy of which was sent to the Department in despatch No. 16042, June 2, 1944.74 After referring to this category of crimes he says:
“The Governments of the United Nations may already have in view some plan for bringing the authors of these crimes to justice, but if that is not the case, it is right that you should know that the Commission is prepared to take up this work if by so doing it can assist the Governments of the United Nations.”
So far no answer has been received to this letter, nor has any notice been taken of it by the various Governments to which it has been reported.
At the press conference, unless otherwise instructed, I shall express what I believe to be your opinion; that is, that the United States Government would be willing to entrust this duty to the Commission, if satisfactory to the other Governments. [Pell.]