740.00116 European War 1939/576½
Memorandum by Mr. Theodore C. Achilles of the Division of European Affairs to the Under Secretary of State (Welles)
Mr. Welles: The British Embassy has this morning received a telegram from the Foreign Office concerning the proposed War Crimes Commission. The substance is as follows:
[Page 58]The Cabinet Committee on War Crimes decided on September 30 that, in view of very strong pressure, the Government’s reply to a question in the House of Lords on this subject, now scheduled for October 7 after having twice been postponed, could not again be postponed. The Dominions, Soviet and Chinese and Exiled Governments and the Fighting French National Committee must be advised in advance that the British Government proposed to make a statement that it favored the establishment of a Fact Finding Commission and the inclusion in the Armistice terms of provisions for the surrender of war criminals. These Governments would be invited to associate themselves with such a statement, the statement itself would be in general terms and, failing a prior expression of our views, would give no details. The statement would, however, be much more effective if it could say that the United States was willing to participate on such a Commission. The Foreign Office accordingly hoped that our views could be indicated before October 7.