The Wilmington morning star., 1943-08-10
Inside Washington
BY CHARLES P. STEWART

WASHINGTON. - Benito Juarez Mussolni,
eX-dictator of Italy, and his Fascist gang will
be punished for their crimes against humanity
President Roosevelt has told the world. A
United Nations Commission for Investigation
of War Crimes has already been named and
is expected soon to begin gathering the evil
dence against a long list of Axis war GRIM
nals, headed by Mussolini and Adolf Hitler.
Action by the United Nations is expected to
follow the Commissions findings.
Whether the arch-criminals of our time will
actually be brought to trial is another matter.
Now reported held in house-arrest after un-
successfully trying to escape to Germany
Mussolini may try to take refuge in neutral
Switzerland after Italys surrender. Both Mus
solini and Hitler have been reported to have
cached personal funds in Switzerland, ira
ditional haven for political refugees, and a
| country which both dictators have left free
throughout the war.
Switzerland mayor may not-alter her
traditional policy to deprive the Axis leaders
of sanctuary. In World War 1, Kaiser Will
helna-the most hated man of his time-suc-
ceeded in taking refuge in neutral Holland,
and despite pressure brought to bear on Queen
Wilhelmina's government, Holland refused to
surrender the former Kaiser to the Allies
And the Allies made no bones about what
they wanted the deposed German warlord for.
Article 227 of the Peace Treaty of Versailles
specifically provided
'The Allied and Associated Governments ar
ragn William II of Hohenzollern, formerly
German Emperor, for a supreme offense
against international morality and the sanctity
| of treaties. . The Allies and Associated
Power will address "a request to the Govern
nent of the Netherlands for the surrender
to them of the Ex-Emperor in order that he
may be put on trial.
| The request was made but the Dutch Gov
ernment took no action Meanwhile, the Ger
man Government opened it's archieves and
poured out collection of documents to throw
doubt on Germany's and the Kaiser's war
guilt. In the endless arguments pro and con,
public clamor for the Kaiser's expulsion from
Holland died down. Result: The Kaiser re-
mained at Doom, unpunished for his crimes,
until his death in 1941.
Napoleon, another would-be world conqueror
of modern times, was not as fortunate as
| the Kaiser.
Following his final defeat at Waterloo Ma
poleon hoped to take refuge in the United
States after he had abdicated the French
| throne in favor of his son, the king of Rome.
He ordered two French frigates to be ready
at Rochefort on July 8, 1915 to bring him
to this country.
| Unfortunately for Napoleon, British men-of-
war were cruising back and forth outside the
harbor. Refusing to risk capture as common
criminal, the little Corsican who had turned
all Europe into one great battlefield for more
than two decades, decided on typically Ma
poleonc gesture. He demanded asylum from
his greatest and most implacable enemy, Eng
| land!
None of the United Nations leaders has
stated specifically that Hitler and Mussolini
will be jailed or executed. The purpose of
the United Nations commission is to investi-
gate charges against war criminals regard
less of rank Furthermore, the Axis bigwgs
may succeed in taking refuge-as the Kaiser
did-in some neutral country, Switzerland,
Spain, Sweden or Portugal.
The outlook for the Quisings. Lavals and
the thousands of other Axis collaborators in
conquered and occupied Europe is very dark,
however. Most Of them do not have planes
or high-powered cars to rush them to safety.
-V-
From England will come one day that great
invasion which will prove that fortress Europe
IS no more invulnerable than fortress Sicily.
l-OWI Director Elmer Davis in broadacts to
Axis.
Now let us get on with the lob, We will
now drive the Germans out of Sicily. Into
pattle with stout hearts. Good luck to Won all
General Montgomery to British 9Th Army
&