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U.N. Economic and Social Council May Discuss Genocide Convention Today

February 9, 1948
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The United Nations Economic and Social Council my begin a discussion tomorrow of a draft convention on genocide for submission to the General Assembly at its next session and for the approval of member states of the U.N., it vas indicated here.

Urging speedy drafting of a convention to outlaw mass murder of a people, the World Jewish Congress in a memorandum submitted to the Council over the week-end asked that emphasis be placed on “methods for preventing genocide, rather than upon punishment after a crime has been committed.” The Congress asked that members of the U.N. pledge themselves to disband “both those groups which have participated in acts of genocide and groups which conduct propaganda tending to incite to genocide.”

The New York Times, in an editorial, declared that “the blood of many millions cries out” for strong action condemning genocide. “We hope the Council, in dealing with this matter, will not be timid,” the Times adds.

The New York Herald Tribune asserted that it is still necessary to state, “in plain and solemn terms, by formal international instrument,” that the “wanton murder of a people is murder of the most heinous sort.” The Tribune urged that “it is time to end the inexplicable delays in the United Nations in coming to grips with the problem. It is impossible for the world to give, any longer, the appearance of tacit acceptance of such an evil.”

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