Rogers and Mitchell Recommend U.S. Ratify UN Convention on Prevention of Genocide

Secretary of State William P, Rogers and Attorney General John Mitchell have recommended to President Richard M. Nixon that the United States ratify the International Convention for the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide adopted by the United Nations in 1948. The measure is now on the President’s desk and he is expected to ask the Senate shortly for its advice and consent on ratification, as required by law. The Genocide Convention came into force on Jan. 12, 1951. The United States took the lend in drafting it but a bill for its ratification has been pigeon-holed in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee since 1949 when it was sent there by then President Harry S. Truman. On Jan, 30, Great Britain became the 75th nation to ratify the Convention, leaving the US. the only major power not yet a party to it. The Jewish Labor Committee today sent telegrams of commendation to Mr. Rogers and Mr. Mitchell for their recommendation to President Nixon. The JLC is one of 52 national, civic, religious and labor organizations forming the Ad Hoc Committee on Human Rights and Genocide Treaties.