740.00116 European War 1939/594

Memorandum by Mr. Theodore C. Achilles of the Division of European Affairs

There is attached a copy of the memorandum prepared by Mr. Hopkins for the President concerning a United Nations Commission on Atrocities. Mr. Acheson32 states: [Page 56]

“Mr. Hopkins has today sent me the attached paper with the following warning. He tells me that this is a copy of the memorandum as originally written for submission to the President; that the President changed this memorandum in long hand, chiefly in the direction of changes of emphasis and matters of that sort. Mr. Hopkins did not recall that there were any extensive changes in substance. Another copy was similarly changed in long hand to conform to the President’s copy. The Prime Minister has one of these copies; the other is locked up in the President’s files, which are at present not available. Mr. Hopkins suggests that, if it is regarded as important to have the changes made on this by the President, the quickest way to get them will be to telegraph to Mr. Winant asking him to obtain a corrected copy through Mr. Eden and telegraph its contents.”

In view of Mr. Hopkins’ belief that there were no extensive changes in substance, it does not seem necessary to telegraph London for the text actually given Mr. Churchill.

[Annex]

Memorandum Prepared by Mr. Harry L. Hopkins for President Roosevelt

A United Nations Commission on Atrocities

1.
An authoritative presentation of the atrocities committed by the Germans and Japanese in Lidice, Poland, Nanking, Hong Kong, and other places should: a) Help to keep the people of the United States informed of the nature of our enemies, spurring us to renewed efforts to defeat them; and b) Serve to deter those committing the atrocities by naming their names and letting them know that they are being watched by the civilized world, which will mete out swift and just punishment on the reckoning day.
2.
Such an authoritative presentation could be made by a United Nations Commission on Atrocities, headed by someone like former Chief Justice Hughes, and including outstanding representatives of the other United Nations, such as Tolstoy of Russia, Del Vayo of Spain, Sforza of Italy, Holdsworth of England, and Dr. Wu of China. To avoid any implications of propaganda, the personnel of the Commission should not officially represent their Governments, though they should be satisfactory to them. They should be persons of a world-wide reputation for integrity and an ability to appraise the evidence.
3.
The Commission should: a) Investigate the atrocities by taking depositions, interrogating eye-witnesses and assessing all other available or obtainable evidence; and b) Report to the United Nations from time to time on the shooting and maiming of hostages and prisoners, the beating and torturing of women and children, and the other [Page 57] violations of the fundamental rights of human beings. The report to the United Nations should, wherever possible, name the persons who are responsible for the atrocities.
  1. Dean Acheson, Assistant Secretary of State.