740.00116 EW/10–344
The British Embassy to the Department of State
Aide-Mémoire
Ref: 152/153/44
His Majesty’s Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has received a formal letter from the Chairman of the United Nations War Crimes Commission stating that the work of the Commission in dealing with war crimes committed by Italians is hampered by the lack of information from Italian sources. The Chairman asks whether the Italian Government can be obliged to afford access to military archives, records and information catalogue, and whether the Commission may be informed as to the quarter to which those who are responsible for the preparation of charges against war criminals should address themselves in order to obtain the information they want.
- 2.
- In Mr. Eden’s view, the Allied Commission in Italy would seem to be the appropriate body to assist the War Crimes Commission in this matter. He thinks that if the War Crimes Commission’s requirements in particular cases were communicated to the Allied Commission either through the Combined Chiefs of Staff and Supreme Allied Commander Mediterranean, or, since the War Crimes Commission is located in London, through His Majesty’s Government and the British Resident Minister Central Mediterranean (Mr. Macmillan), the Allied Commission could no doubt ensure the Italian Government’s compliance with the War Crimes Commission’s requirements.
- 3.
- Mr. Eden is seeking the views of Mr. Macmillan and of Sir Noel Charles1 on the above point and, subject to their views, considers [Page 1377] that it would be desirable for this matter to be raised in the Advisory Council for Italy simultaneously with the question of the War Crimes Commission’s competence for dealing with German crimes against Italians.
- 4.
- Mr. Eden suggests that, if the United States Government agree, appropriate instructions might be sent to the United States representative on the Advisory Council.
- British Representative on the Advisory Council for Italy.↩