Moscow Parley Pledges Allies Will Demand German War Criminals As Armistice Condition

A joint communique issued simultaneously today in Washington, London and Moscow, following conclusion of the tri-power conference in the Soviet capital, pledged that as a condition to granting an armistice to any government that may be established in Germany, the United Nations will demand the surrender of those German officers and men, and members of the Nazi party, responsible for the atrocities committed against the civilian populations of occupied countries.

The communique further stated that the accused Germans will be sent to the countries in which their crimes were committed for trial by the courts of those nations.

The full text of the joint communique, which was signed by President Roosevelt, Premier Stalin and Prime Minister Churchill, reads:

“The United Kingdom, the United States and the Soviet Union have received from many quarters evidence of atrocities, massacres and cold-blooded mass-executions which are being perpetrated by Hitlerite forces in many of the countries they have overrun and from which they are now being steadily expelled. The brutalities of Nazi domination are no new thing and all peoples or territories in their grip have suffered from the worst form of government by terror. What is new is that many of these territories are now being redeemed by the advancing armies of the liberating powers and that in their desperation, the recoiling Hitlerites and Huns are redoubling their ruthless cruelties. This is now evidenced with particular clearness by the monstrous crimes in the territory of the Soviet Union which is being liberated from Hitlerites, and on French and Italian territory.

“Accordingly, the aforesaid three Allied powers, speaking in the interests of the 32 United Nations, hereby solemnly declare and give full warning of their declaration as follows: At the time of granting of any armistice to any government which may be set up in Germany, those German officers and men and members of the Nazi party who have been responsible for or have taken a consenting part in the above atrocities, massacres and executions will be sent back to the countries in which their abominable deeds were done in order that they may be judged and punished according to the laws of these liberated countries and of the free governments which will be erected therein. Lists will be compiled in all possible detail from all these countries, having regard especially to invaded parts of the Soviet Union, to Poland and Czechoslovakia, to Yugoslavia and Greece, including Crete and other islands, to Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France and Italy.

“Thus, Germans who take part in wholesale shooting of Polish officers or in the execution of French, Dutch, Belgian or Norwegian hostages or of critic peasants, or who have shared in slaughters inflicted on the people of Poland or in territories of the Soviet Union which are now being swept clear of the enemy, will know they will be brought back to the scene of their crimes and judged on the spot by the peoples whom they have outraged. Let those who have hitherto not imbrued their hands with innocent blood beware lest they join the ranks of the guilty, for most assuredly the three Allied powers will pursue them to the uttermost ends of the earth and will deliver them to their accusers in order that justice may be done.

“The above declaration is without prejudice to the case of German criminals, whose offenses have no particular geographical localization and who will be punished by the joint decision of the governments of the Allies.”