§ 25. Viscount CURZONasked the Prime Minister whether it is intended to proceed with the trial of the War criminals on the black list; how long it is intended to retain in the hands of the Allies those persons who feature in this list; whether they are considered to be prisoners of war or criminals against the laws of the country in whose hands they now are pending trial; and whether the Supreme Council has as yet decided whether the 1432 naval offenders will be tried under the German or British code of international law as far as maritime offences are concerned?
§ 37. Mr. GRATTAN DOYLEasked the Prime Minister what is the total number of War criminals which the Allied Governments have intimated must be handed over to them for trial; what steps have the German authorities taken to comply with the demand; how many such criminals have been handed over; and what steps do the Supreme Council propose to take to insist that their oft-repeated demands shall be complied with?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI can add nothing to the statement made by the Leader of the House on this subject on the 17th May last.
§ Mr. BOTTOMLEYWould not the right hon. Gentleman really take the House into his confidence and tell us that this question of punishment of War criminals, like certain other election pledges, is now to be written off as a political bad debt?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not agree in the least with the hon. Gentleman that this ought to be written off. That would be a grave dereliction of duty on our part.