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He was
motive was evidently to strengthen their position in further discussions on the United Kingdom's proposed measures. confident that it would be possible to reach agreement with the Commission during the two month period.
The Cabinet
Took note.
ONFIDENTIAL
WAR CRIMES
INQUIRY
Cabinet considered a Memorandum by the Home Secretary (C)11) seeking their approval for a draft statement which he proposed to make on the following Monday announcing the publication of the report of the War Crimes Inquiry.
THE HOME CRETARY said that he had received the report of the Inquiry
he had set up in February 1988 to consider allegations cha persons who were now British citizens or resident in the nited Kingdom had committed war crimes during the Second Wora and to advise whether the law of the United Kingdom should ended in order to enable prosecutions to take place in
country. The Inquiry had been very thoroughly conducted its two members, who were both prudent and experienced men.
had produced a strong and clear report which recommended introduction of legislation to give the British courts jution over murder and manslaughter committed as war crimes irmany or German-occupied territory during the Second World persons who were now British citizens or resident in the United Kingdom. The second part of the report, which contained deiled material
iled material on individual cases, mostly concerned with civilians, would not be pubide prosecutions. However, the main for publication and he believed accompany publication with a indication as to the Government's recommendations contained in it.
e deliberate extermination of
since it could prejudice of the report was intended at it would be necessary to
atement
which gave some attitude
to the
It would be difficult to decide to take
criminals within their jurisdictions had tag
steps to allow action to be taken against the believe that
that extradition of those accused
represented an acceptable alternative to legislation
that in practice this would be likely to controversial than a decision to legislate.
Legisla
not compel prosecutions to be brought: the decision whe
The eupate no
the report and of the fact that almost all he other civilised
necessary did not
crimes judged
more
action in the face of
countries which had discovered the presence 38 alleged war
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