The State Department’s failure to return Herbert C. Pell to London as the American representative on the United Nations War Crimes Commission has caused dismay among the members of that body who favor harsh punishment of Axis leaders responsible for the murder of millions of civilians in Europe — including their own nationals.
One member expressed the belief that the British Foreign Office’s reluctance to approve extension of the commission’s scope to cover crimes by the enemy against its own nationals — especially Jews — and to support the creation of an international tribunal to try war criminals, and the U.S. failure to reappoint Pell are closely linked.
He voiced the opinion that the commission would probably have chosen Pell as chairman, to succeed Sir Cecil Hurst who resigned in disapproval of the Foreign Office stand, because they knew Pell favored tough treatment of war criminals.
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