740.00116 E.W./9–1644
The American Representative on the United Nations War Crimes Commission (Pell) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 22.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that on the afternoon of Friday, September 15, I was visited by Dr. Ecer, the Representative of Czechoslovakia on the War Crimes Commission. Colonel Hodgson and I received him.
He was extremely annoyed at the non-receipt of an answer from His Britannic Majesty’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Eden, to a letter written by Sir Cecil Hurst, the Chairman of the Commission, May 31, 1944, a copy of which was enclosed in despatch number 16042, June 2, 1944 (C.23(1)91).
Dr. Ecer feels that this refusal to answer reflects on the dignity of the Commission, and hampers its work to an extent which will materially lessen its prestige. He pointed out that public opinion as expressed in the British newspapers was rather hostile to the statement put out by Sir Cecil Hurst, and also that public opinion was [Page 1361] shocked at his statement of the limitations of the Commission’s authority.
He appeared to be ready to make a considerable disturbance which might be accompanied by some unpleasant publicity. I suggested that a diplomatic approach to the problem would be for him to request his Government now in London to ask their Ambassador to see Mr. Eden on this subject.
He informed me that there would certainly be questions asked in Parliament on this subject as soon as it meets. This obviously will result in publicity.
Respectfully,