The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-08-03

Punishment For
Mar Guilty MAJ
be Questionable

WASHINGTON Benit1 Juarez
MussoHni. ex.d.ctator OF Italy, and
his Fascist sang viii be punished
for their crimes against humanity
President Roosevelt has told the
world \ United Nations Commits
SION for. Investigation OF War
Crimes has already been named
and is cxpe eted soon TO begin gath
erIng the evidence against a lonS
list OF AXIS war criminals, headed
by Nussolni and Adolf Hitler. Ac-
ton by the United Nations Is ga
pected 10 follow the commission
findings
Whether the arCh-cr.mlnals OF
our time will actually be brought 10
trial is anothe, matter. Now report
ed held in house.arrest after unsuc-
cessfully trying to escape 10 Ger
many. NussouGi may try 10 take
refuge IN neutral Switzerland alter
raly's surrender. Both Museum
and Hitler have been reported to
have cached personal funds IN swift
rerland. a traditional haven for po'
Itical refugees, aGd a country
which both dictato-s have LETT free
throughout the war.
Switzerland mayor may not
alter her Traditional policy 10 de-
priye the AXIS leaders OF sanctuary.
In World War |, Kaiser Wilhelm
the most hated man Of his time
succeeded in taking refuge in neu-
tral Holland. and despite pressure
brought to bear on queen NlIhe.-
mina's government, Holland refused
10 surrender the former Kaiser 10
the Allies.
And the Allies made no bones
about what they wanted the de-
posed German Warlogd for. Article
227 OF the Peace Treaty OF Yer
sailles specifically provided
The Allied and Associated Gov
ernments arraign William II OF
Hohenzollern, former German En-
peror, for supreme o.tense against
international morality and the sane
tity OF treaties The Allies and
Associated Power will address re-
quest 10 the Government OF the
Netherlands for the surrender 10
them OF the EX-Emperor in order
that he may be put on trial
The request was made but the
Dutch Government took no action.
Meanwhile. the German Govern
ment opened its archives and
poured out a collection OF docu.
ments 10 throw doubt on Germanys
and the kaiser's war guilt. In the
endless arguments pro and con,
public clamor for the kaise-'s eXpu!.
sion from Holland died down. Re-
suit: The Kaiser remained at
Doom. unpublished for his crimes,
until his death in 1871.
Napoleon. another wou.d-be world
conqueror Of modern times, was not
so fortunate as the Kaiser.
Following his. final defeat at
Waterloo, Napoleon hoped to take
refuge in the United states alter he
had abdicated the French throne
in favor Of his son. the king OF
Rome. He ordered TWO French frig'
ates TO be ready at Rochefort on
July 5. 1915 to bring him 70 this
country.
Unfortunately for Napoleon, Brit
ish men-ot-War were cruising BACK
and forth outside the harbor. Re
fusinz 10 risk capture as a common
criminal. the little Corslcan VINO
had tur1ed all Europe into one great
battlefield for more thar Two dec
AIDES, decided on a typically Napo.-
comic gesture He demanded asylum
from his greatest and most in
placable enemy. England
None OF the United Nations lead
ers has stated specifically that
Hitler and Mussolini will be jailed
or executed. The purpose OF the
United Nations commission is u
investigate charges against war
criminals regardless OF rank. " Fur.
thermore, the Axis higwigs NAV
succeed in taking refuge-as the
Kasier did-in some neutral coun-
try. Switzerland. Spain, Sweden, or
Portugal.
The outlook for the Quislings,
Lavals and the thousands OF other
Axis cola borators in conquered and
occupied Europe IS very dark, how
ever. Most OF them do not have
planes or high.powered cars 70
thew, - cafcfr-