740.00116 E.W./12–1344
The Legal Adviser (Hackworth) to the First Secretary of the British Embassy (Gore-Booth)
Dear Mr. Gore-Booth: I thank you for your letter of December 13, 1944 informing us of the Soviet Government’s statement that it does not find it possible to agree that measures for the investigation of war crimes be undertaken on behalf of the United Nations War Crimes Commission by the Allied Commission in Italy.
I assume that this statement refers to war crimes committed both by and against Italians which were discussed in the Embassy’s aide-mémoires of October 3 (Ref. 152/153/44 and 152/154/44).
The Department had understood that steps were being taken by the Foreign Office to have the problem of the first named category discussed by the European Advisory Commission.
Acting upon this assumption, the Department suggested to Mr. Kirk41 that the British proposal regarding Italian war crimes might be held temporarily in abeyance in the discussions of the Advisory [Page 1408] Council for Italy. Mr. Kirk has advised the Department42 that at its meeting of December 15 the Council agreed to postpone discussion of the British proposal regarding Italian war crimes although, pending receipt of instructions, the question will still be kept on the agenda.
It appears from the message quoted in your letter that the Foreign Office proposes to broach the question of German crimes against Italians in the European Advisory Commission.
I am wondering therefore whether the Department is correct in its understanding that the Foreign Office is taking steps to have the question of both categories of war crimes discussed by the European Advisory Commission.
Sincerely yours,