740.00116 E.W./11–2744: Telegram
The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Kennan) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:15 p.m.]
4524. The British Ambassador has given me a copy of a note dated November 17 which he has written to the Soviet Foreign Office expressing the hope that the Soviet Government will see no objection to the British proposal to enlarge the competency of the United Nations War Crimes Commission in order to permit it to deal with German war crimes in Italy.
The last word received here was contained in Kirk’s 52, November 17, 6 p.m. to Moscow25 which stated that the Soviet representative on the ACC had suggested that the British proposal should be submitted through diplomatic channels. If the Department has taken any action in pursuance to this suggestion, I would appreciate being informed.
This Embassy does not receive reports about the activities of the War Crimes Commission. In view of the special interest taken by the Soviet Government in war crimes it would be useful if we could receive periodic summaries of the activities of the London group.
Sent to Department as 4524; repeated to Rome as 25; and to London as 271.
- Telegram 747, November 17, 1944, from the American Representative on the Advisory Council for Italy, not printed.↩