THE PEACE CONGRESS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 June 1919, Page 10

THE PEACE CONGRESS.

NEW ZEALAND DELEGATION. Enemy Crimes Commission's Report; "Pacta Cry for Justice." (From R. Riley, Official Journalist) Paris, April 2. The Commission on the Responsibility of the Authors of the War, and the breaches of the Laws and Customs of War, states in its final report to the plenary Peace Conference that "in spite of the explicit regulations, ot established customs, and of the clear dictates of humanity, German and her allies have piled outrage upon outrage. It is impossible to imagine a list of cases so diverse and so painful .... The examples constitute the molt striking list of crimes that has ever been drawn up to the eternal shame of those who committed them. The facts are established. They are numerous and so vouched for that they admit of no doubt and cry for justice." CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. The conclusions and recommendations of the Commission (of which Mr Mas* sey was a member and also chairman of the sub-Commission on facts and chairman of the Drafting Committee) are as follows:—The war was premeditated by the Central Powers together with their allies, Turkey and Bulgaria, and was the result of acts deliberately committed in order to make it unavoidable. Germany, in agreement with Au&tria-Hun-gary, deliberately worked to defeat all the many conciliatory proposals made by the Entente Powers and their repeated efforts to avoid war. The neutrality of Belgium, guaranteed by the Treaty of the 19th April, 1839, and that of Luxemburg, guaranteed by the Treaty of the 11th May, 1867, were deliberately violated by Germany and Austria-Hun-gary. The war was carried on by the Central Empires together with their allies, Turkey and Bulgaria, by barbarous or illegitimate methods in violation of the established laws and customs of war an! the elementary laws of humanity. The Commission recommends the appointment of a Standing Committee for , the purpose of collecting and system* atising such further information, with a view to the preparation of as comprehensive a list of charges and accused persons; as possible of the violations of the laws and customs of war committed by the forces of Germany and her allies on land, at sea, and in the air in the course of the present war. All persons belonging to enemy countries, WHhout distinction of rank, including chiefs of States. 1 , who have been guilty of offences against the laws and customs of war or the laws of humanity, are liable to criminal prosecution.

The Commission also recommends that a High Tribunal be constituted of three persona appointed by each of the following Governments: America, British Empire, France, Italy and Japan, and one person each from Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Poland, Portugal, Roumania and Serbia, to deal with charges coming within the scope of international law and punishment (such charges being detailed in the report); also that National Tribunals be established. That it shall be provided by the Treaty of Peace:— (a) That the enemy Government thall, notwithstanding Peace may have been declared, recognise the jurisdiction of the National Tribunals and the High Tri'iunal, that all enemy persons alleged to have been guilty of offences against the laws and customs of war and the laws of humanity shall be excluded from any amnetty to which the belligerents may agree, and that the Governments of Buch persons shall undertake to surrender th'em to be tried.

(b) That the enemy Governments shall undertake to deliver up and give in such manner as may be determined thereby:— (1) The names of all persona in command or charge of or in any way exercising authority in or over all civilian internment camps, prisoner-of-war camps, branch camps, working camps and "commandoes" and other places where prisoners were confined in any of their dominions or in any territory at any time occupied by them, with respect to which such information is required, and all orders and instructions and reports in their possession or under their control relating to the administration and discipline of all such places; in respect of which the supply of such documents as aforesaid shall be demanded. (2) All orders, instructions, copies of orders and instructions, proceedings in naval or military courts; and courts of inquiry, reports and other documents in their possession or under their control which relate to acts or operations, whether in their dominions or in territory at any time occupied by them, which shall be alleged to have been done or carried out in breach of the laws and customs of

war arid the laws: of humanity. (3) Such information as will indicate the persons who committed or were responsible for such acts and operations. (4) All logs, charts, reports and other documents relating to operations by submarines. (5) All orders: issued to submarines, with details or scope of operations by these vessels, (6) Such reports and other documents as mnv be demanded relating to operation alleged to have been ! conducted by enemy ships and . , their crews during the war contrary to the laws and customs of , war and the laws of humanity. (c) : That each Allied and Associated Government adopt such legislation as Way be necessary to support the jurisdiction of the International Court, and to assume the carrying out of its sentences:. (d) That the five States represented oil 'ithe Prosecuting Commission shall jointly approach neutral Governments with a view to obtaining the surrender for trial of persons within their who are charged by such States' with violations of the laws,' and customs of war and the laws of humanity. The Commission's report contains further recommendations on minor matters, mostly of a technical character, and provisions for insertion in Treaties: with enemy Governments. These include admission by the enemy Governments of the right of every Allied or Associated State to try and punish any enemy who falls within its power and who has been guilty of a violation of the laws of war, alto the enemy's recognition of the Allies' right to constitute a High Tribunal to try and punish enemy offenders (without objection by the enemy Gov-, erpment to punishment being carried out), the enemy Government's agreement to surrender persons, records, and |documents as may be demanded by any w'tba Allied and .taociatefr States