Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1942, General; the British Commonwealth; the Far East, Volume I

740.00116 European War 1939/606: Telegram

The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Henderson) to the Secretary of State

Kuibyshev (Moscow), October 16, 1942—1 p.m.
[Received October 17—5:45 p.m.]

896. Volzhskaya Kommuna of October 16 publishes a note addressed by Molotov^36a under date of October 14³⁷ to the Governments of Czechoslovakia, Poland, Yugoslavia, Norway, Greece, Belgium, Holland, Luxemburg and the French National Committee in response to a joint note sent by them to the Soviet Government³⁸ on the subject of punishment for German misdeeds committed in occupied areas. The Soviet note expresses recognition of these atrocities, remarks on those committed on Soviet territory which have been the subject of circular notes issued in the past by the Soviet Government³⁹ and conveys the readiness of the Soviet Government to bring to trial and punish the perpetrators thereof through legal means. It also states that the Soviet Government is in agreement with the declaration of President Roosevelt contained in his speech of October 12⁴⁰ that the Nazi leaders must be dealt with in accordance with criminal law. It specifies for such punishment Hitler, Goering, Hess, Goebbels, Himmler, Ribbentrop, Rosenberg “and others”. It adds the statement that Fascist German leaders who have already fallen into the hands of states fighting against Germany should be tried before a “special international tribunal” and punished with all due severity under criminal law without delay.

Henderson

1. V. M. Molotov, Soviet People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs.
37. Punishment for War Crimes (2), p. 5.
38. Note presented at Kuibyshev on July 23, 1942, by the Czechoslovak Minister and a representative of the French National Committee, Punishment for War Crimes (2), p. 4.
39. See The Molotov Notes on German Atrocities: Notes Sent by V. M. Molotov, People’s Commissar for Foreign Affairs, to All Governments With Which the U. S. S. R. Had Diplomatic Relations (His Majesty’s Stationery Office, 1942).
40. For an excerpt from President Roosevelt’s radio address on Columbus Day, see World Peace Foundation, Documents on American Foreign Relations, July 1942–June 1943 (Boston, 1944), vol. v, p. 22.