Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, General, Volume I

740.00116 European War/10–944

Document No. C.60, 6 October, 1944: Letter From the Chairman of the United Nations War Crimes Commission (Hurst) to the British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Eden)¹⁰

[London,] October 6, 1944.

Sir: I have the honour to transmit to you herewith the text of a draft convention which has been prepared by this Commission for the establishment of a United Nations War Crimes Court, together with an explanatory memorandum, (C.50(1) and C.58¹¹).

There are also included the text of a recommendation for the establishment of supreme military commanders of mixed Military Tribunals for the trial of War Criminals, together with suggestions to accompany the recommendation (C.52(1) and C.59¹²).

In transmitting these documents I am asked to inform you that the Commission unanimously expressed the hope that you would be so good as to take the necessary steps to convene in the near future a diplomatic conference to consider, and if thought fit to conclude, a convention for the establishment of a United Nations War Crimes Court.

I have [etc.]

Cecil J. B. Hurst

10. Transmitted to the Department by the American Representative on the United Nations War Crimes Commission in despatch 18475, October 9, 1944; received October 14.
11. Ante, pp. 1370 and 1381, respectively.
12. Ante, pp. 1365 and 1382, respectively.