Evening star., 1945-01-27
Dissension Threatens
Continued Existence
OF War Crimes Group

OF War Crimes Group
Controversy over the details of
how Hitler and other Axis war
criminals should be punished
after Allied victory appeared to-
day to threaten a final break
down in the work of the United
Nations War Crimes Commission
in London.
Withdrawal of the American
member of the commission, Herbert
Claiborne Pell, was announced yes
terday by Acting Secretary of State
Grew who said it had been neces-
sary to relieve him of his assign
ment because Congress had decided
not to appropriate money for his
salary and expenses.
Mr. Pen told reporters, however,
that he felt dissatisfaction with his
work rather than lack of funds was
responsible for his removal.
Briton Resigns.
His severance from the commits
sion followed resignation of the
British member, Sir Cecil Hurst,
whom Mr.. Pell had been slated to
succeed as chairman
The American representatives had
put through the commission a rec
ommendation that the Axis satel-
lite leaders responsible for crimes
committed against their own citizens
because of race or religion be pun
ished- as war criminals because of
those specific acts. His British COL
league had supported this view.
Both the State Department and
the British Foreign Office had failed
to act on this recommendation as
well as on other less controversial
commission proposals.
Mr.. Pell said that while he had
not found any one in this Govern
ment who disagreed with him fatty.
action had not been taken. He add
ed that in his opinion his work had
been unsatisfactory to somebody, I
don't know whom"
Deputy to Remain.
Mr.. Grew said Mr.. Pell's with
drawal does not mean any dimuni-
ton in American interest or activity
in "the general subject of the
punishment of war criminals" He
added that this country would con-
tinue to be represented on the Lon
don commission by 1t. Col. Joseph
V. Hodgson, former attorney gen.
eral in Hawaii, who has been serv-
ing as Mr. Pell's deputy.
In view of the apparent contro-
versy underlying the resignation of
Sir Cecil Hurst and withdrawal of
Mr.. Pell, however, hopes for further
Allied efforts to plan in detail the
punishment of Axis war criminals in
advance centered on the meeting of
President Roosevelt, Prime Minister
Churchill and Premier Stain.
Mr.. Pel had returned to this
country late last year after the Lon
don commission had substantially
completed the first two phases of its
assignment-the preparation of a
list of war criminals with evidence
against them and recommended pro-
cedure for Furnishing them.
Split on Procedure.
The controversy over the question
of Furnishing Gestapo agents for
crimes committed against Jews and
others within their own country be-
cause of race or religion apparently
hinges around procedure, with gen.
eral agreement that they should be
punished in some way.
Mr.. Pell said he took the view that
these prosecutions were crimes
against humanity" and should be
punished by international action,
although technically what a Gov
eminent does to its own nationals
is its own affair under international
law.
He added that he did not think
there was any question about
Hitler's future and that the only
point undecided is whether he
should have trial before an inter-
national tribunal before being ex-
ecuted.
London Expresses Regret.
In London, the Associated Press
reported Mr.. Pells withdrawal met
with surprise and regret in Allied
diplomatic quarters. Other COM
mission members said his loss
would be felt but that work of
studying ways and means for
Furnishing Axis crimes would con-
tnue.
The deficiency appropriation re-
quest for continuing Mr.. Pell's as
signment which was turned down
by Congress involved $4,000, in
Guiding $4,000 for his salary for six
months. He had been paid up to
the first of this year from an emer-
gency fund no longer available, Of
icials said.
In voting down the $4,000 request
the House Appropriations Commit
tee decided there was no immediate
need for such an agency. 1t said
that 'conceivably by We day there
will be a need for an independent
agency to join again in such an in
vestigation"
The Senate wrote the $4,000 back
into an appropriations bill, but it
was finally eliminated in Senate
House ropferepre