740.00116 European War 1939/594
Memorandum by Mr. Theodore C. Achilles of the
Division of European Affairs
[Washington,] September 24, 1942.
There is attached a copy of the memorandum prepared by Mr. Hopkins for
the President concerning a United Nations Commission on Atrocities. Mr.
Acheson32 states:
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“Mr. Hopkins has today sent me the attached paper with the
following warning. He tells me that this is a copy of the
memorandum as originally written for submission to the
President; that the President changed this memorandum in long
hand, chiefly in the direction of changes of emphasis and
matters of that sort. Mr. Hopkins did not recall that there were
any extensive changes in substance. Another copy was similarly
changed in long hand to conform to the President’s copy. The
Prime Minister has one of these copies; the other is locked up
in the President’s files, which are at present not available.
Mr. Hopkins suggests that, if it is regarded as important to
have the changes made on this by the President, the quickest way
to get them will be to telegraph to Mr. Winant asking him to
obtain a corrected copy through Mr. Eden and telegraph its
contents.”
In view of Mr. Hopkins’ belief that there were no extensive changes in
substance, it does not seem necessary to telegraph London for the text
actually given Mr. Churchill.
[Annex]
Memorandum Prepared by Mr. Harry L. Hopkins for
President Roosevelt
A United Nations Commission on
Atrocities
- 1.
- An authoritative presentation of the atrocities committed by
the Germans and Japanese in Lidice, Poland, Nanking, Hong Kong,
and other places should: a) Help to keep
the people of the United States informed of the nature of our
enemies, spurring us to renewed efforts to defeat them; and b) Serve to deter those committing the
atrocities by naming their names and letting them know that they
are being watched by the civilized world, which will mete out
swift and just punishment on the reckoning day.
- 2.
- Such an authoritative presentation could be made by a United
Nations Commission on Atrocities, headed by someone like former
Chief Justice Hughes, and including outstanding representatives
of the other United Nations, such as Tolstoy of Russia, Del Vayo
of Spain, Sforza of Italy, Holdsworth of England, and Dr. Wu of
China. To avoid any implications of propaganda, the personnel of
the Commission should not officially represent their
Governments, though they should be satisfactory to them. They
should be persons of a world-wide reputation for integrity and
an ability to appraise the evidence.
- 3.
- The Commission should: a) Investigate
the atrocities by taking depositions, interrogating
eye-witnesses and assessing all other available or obtainable
evidence; and b) Report to the United
Nations from time to time on the shooting and maiming of
hostages and prisoners, the beating and torturing of women and
children, and the other
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violations of the fundamental rights of human beings. The report
to the United Nations should, wherever possible, name the
persons who are responsible for the atrocities.
