Evening star., 1943-05-01

edCH OIlleT.
1T is not sufficient to hope thai
international problems will auto
matically adjust themselves. We
know too we'll that progress is
achieved the hard way. Men on the
battlefield are dying that civilization
may be saved and that law by which
we have learned to govern our con-
duct toward our neighbor and moi
force shall prevail The body OF
law under which our civilization
must advance must be a steadily
growing one, tempered by past ex-
perience but capable of fulfilling the
needs of rapidly changing world
The world must have such q law for
its dependence 1t cannot permit a
recurrence of the present reign of
lawlessness.
There has scarcely been time
when there was greater need than
now for constructive thinking look
ing to the supremacy of law, justice
and common decency in the rela-
tions between nations and their
peoples"
Necessity for punishment" con-
ference was cited by DR.. Hyde today
to determine what persons should
be sought, for what conduct they
should be tried, who should be their
judges, where adjudication should
be held, who should apply the pen
alties and how custody can be got
ten of much-desired actors"
Would Permit Enemy Charges.
That enemies be allowed to bring
charges of violations of the laws of
war against members of the Allied
forces before neutral tribunals was
suggested by DR.. Hyde.
Confidence in the high purpose
Of the Allied powers would doubt
lessly be enhanced in every quar-
tef," he said, "if the courts to be
employed were given compre-
hensive jurisdiction to pass on the
conduct of any person of any ma
tionality, regardless of the bel
ligerent on whose side he served"
There would be special difficulties
about this, DR.. Hyde added. An
Allied power would hardly agree to
surrender convicted member of it's
forces to the Axis for punishment.
1t would insist that any punishment
be within its own domain.
The difficulties of Furnishing en-
emy war criminals are great, DR..
Hyde said, recalling that the prin-
cipal wrongdoers of the last war
escaped. The worst offenders will
be the hardest to convict, DR.. Hyde
warned
Evidence of the part of high
officers who from distant places
have inspired, ordered, or even en-
couraged the commission of lawleSs
conduct, should be sought and pre-
served" he said. Evidence must be
obtained from sources that at first
seem impenetrable." The avail
ability of witnesses must raise diff
culties, especially when their testi-
mony is to be given long after the
commission of the acts charged"
Considers Martyr Factor.
AS for courts, the simplest method,
DR.. Hyde said, would be to try enemy
persons surrendered in domestic
courts, but "the prosecuting victors
would have difficulty in convincing
society at large that the courts
employed were other than political
tools; and those punished might be
regarded on both sides as martyrs"
Suggesting a solution, he said, "a
court or courts composed solely of
neutral nationals would more easily
command respect for decisions ad-
verse to the claims and defenses of
accused persons. Moreover the will
ingness of the Allied Powers to test
and establish their grievances be-
fore neutral judges would inspire
a widespread and decent respect for
their stand"
In concluding DR.. Hyde said. "It
Is of first Importance that the ajor
Allied Powers - the United States,
Sritain, China and Russia-at once
tackle the whole problem together,
and explore the possibilities of con-
certed action"
Brig. Gen. Cornelius w. Wicker
sham, of the Judge Advocate Gen.
erals staff and son of the late At
torney General of the United
States. told at this mornings ses-
sion of the training by the Army
of civil affairs officers at Charlottes-
vile, Va.
The student body" he said. lis
divided into committees to whom
are issued periodically, practice
problems which must be solved by
the production of committee reports
designed to be analogous to the
recommendations and plans of a
balanced civil affairs staff section.
They will be assisted in their work
by the necessary experts, who will
be trained at number of institu-
tions and by Junior assistants
obtained from the military police
corps" =
Law Must Have Power.
Mr.. Sayre, Mr.. Coudert and Sir
Arthur emphasized last night that
International law after the war will
have to have power behind it.
1--WE know that the peace-seeking
structure of the future" said Mr.
Sayre, must in the last analysis be
backed with force. The wider and
permanent system of general secur-
ity' which the Atlantic Charter
promises, must be more than sys-
tenn of pious resolutions. Other
wise there will again be outlaws who
will disregard 1t.
Our real job is to safeguard the
peace. and to do so we must learn
to utilize sovereign powers prac-
tically and purposefully through
measures Of international CO.
operation"
Law cannot be disassociated