White House news release.
On-August twenty-first I said that this Government was constantly receiving
information concerning the barbaric crimes being committed by the enemy
against civilian populations in occupied countries, particularly on
the continent of Europe. I said it was the purpose of this Government,
as I knew it to be the purpose of the other United Nations, to see that
when victory is won the perpetrators of these crimes shall answer for
them before courts of law.
The commission of these crimes continues.
I new declare it to be the intention of this Government that the successful
close of the war shall include provision for the surrender to the United
Nations of war criminals.
With a view to establishing responsibility of the guilty individuals
through the collection and assessment of all available evidence, this
Government is prepared to cooperate with the British and other Governments
in establishing a United Nations Commission for the Investigation of
War Crimes.
The number of persons eventually found guilty will undoubtedly be extremely
small compared to the total enemy populations.
It is not the intention of this Government or of the Governments associated
with us to resort to mass reprisals. It is our intention that just and
sure punishment shall be meted out to the ringleaders responsible for
the organized murder of thousands of innocent persons and the commission
of atrocities which have violated every tenet of the Christian faith.