The Canadian Government has requested its Ambassador at Bonn to ask the Federal Republic of Germany how it intends to treat accused war criminals who may be discovered after the present German statute of limitations becomes effective next May, the Canadian Jewish Congress was informed here today.
The information was contained in a letter to Michael Garber, president of the CJC, from Paul Martin, Canada’s Secretary of State for External Affairs. Replying to a letter from Mr. Garber, in which the CJC head expressed concern over the scheduled effective date of the statute in May, Mr. Martin stated he found it “difficult” for Canada to intervene in “a matter which falls within the domestic jurisdiction of another government.”
“However,” Mr. Martin continued, “I have taken the step of asking our Ambassador in Bonn to make informal inquiries about what the future intentions of the Federal Republic might be in the event that further war crimes should come to light after the May 1965 deadline. If the answer is not satisfactory, we will then, preferably in conjunction with other governments, take such additional steps as may be practicable.”
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