Evening star., 1942-08-21
Prosecutions to Be
Held in Nations
Now Occupied
BY BLAIR BOLLES.


mally warned enemy nations that
those responsible for atrocities
against civilians in Axis occupied
countries will face postwar trial
In the countries where the
atrocities are committed.
Incensed by reports of i'll treatment
OF conquered civilians in Europe and
Asia as forwarded to him by Sec
retary of State Hull from the Am
bassador of the Netherlands and
the Ministers of Yugoslavia and
Luxembourg, Mr.. Roosevelt took the
unusual step of denouncing the
atrocities by the issuance of a
formal statement at his press con-
ference.
One apparent purpose of the
statement also was to temper the
desire. reported growing among sub
ject peoples. for spontaneous re-
venge against their aggreSsors.
Allies Going to Win War.
ut seems only fair that they
should have this warning that the
time will come when they shall
have to stand in courts of law in
the very countries which they are
now expressing and answer for
their acts"
The United Nations are going to
win this war" the President said.
when victory has been achieved, it
Is the purpose of the Government of
the United States, as know it is the
purpose of each of the United Ma
tions, to make appropriate use of
the information and evidence in re-
spect to these barbaric crimes of the
invaders, in Europe and in Asia"
Mr.. Roosevelt said communications
forwarded to him by Secretary Hull
called attention to the barbaric
crimes against civilian populations
which are being committed in occu-
pied countries, particularly on The
continent of Europe" The commu-
nication was signed by the Neither
lands. Yugoslav and Luxembourg
ENJOYS on behalf of the governments
of Belgium, Greece, Luxembourg,
Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Czech
oslovakia and Yugoslavia and the
French National Committee in Lon
don.
Looking up from the statement,
the President expressed the hope
that retaliation against the atroci-
ties on civilians will come through
the judicial process and not through
private systems OF revenge.
He said he thought sober judg-
ment all over the world would be in
favor of judicial process.
Referring obviously to the recent
trial of the Nazi saoote,lrs. he said
we had very good example of the
judicial process here two or three
weeks ago. That wasn't just form,
he said.
The atrocities, Mr.. Roosevelt said,
revolt the world and reach into the
depths of frightfulness. He COM
mented that frightfulness can never
bring peace to Europe
He said the present course of
executions could lead to the ex-
termination of peoples.
Text Of Statement.
The text of the Presidents state
ment read:
The Secretary of State recently
forwarded to me a communication
signed by the Ambassador of the
Netherlands and the Ministers of
Yugoslavia and Luxembourg on be-
half Of the Government of Belgium,
Greece, Luxembourg, Norway. Meth
erlands, Poland, Czechoslovakia.
Yugoslavia and the French National
Committee in London, calling atten-
tion to the barbaric crimes against
civilian populations which are being
committed in occupied countries,
particularly on the continent of
Europe
In this. communication, attention
was invited to the declaration signed
In London on January 13, 1912 by
the representatives of nine govern
ments whose countries are under
German occupation. This declara-
tion affirmed that acts of violence
thus perpetrated against the civilian
populations are at variance with &C
cepted ideas concerning acts of war
and political offenses as these are
understood by civilized nations:
stated that the punishment, through
the channel of organized justice
of those guilty and responsible for
these crimes, is one of the principal
war aims of the contracting govern
ments; and recorded the determina- =
tion OF the contracting governments
In spirit OF international solidarity
to see to it that those guilty and
responsible, whatever their nation