§ 19. Mr. Pickthornasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affffairs what penal code is being used and is to be used in the definition and trial of crimes alleged against persons in Yugoslavia; and whether there is any assurance of amnesty.
§ Mr. LawI do not know what penal code is used to try ordinary criminal offences in Yugoslavia. Offences of collaboration with the enemy and his satellites are tried in Serbia by special courts set up under a decree of 19th December last. These courts, which are responsible to the Presidium of the Serb Anti-Fascist Skupstina, are empowered to pronounce sentences up to ten years' forced labour. I do not know whether similar courts have been or are to be set up in the other federal States of Yugoslavia. In addition to these special courts, there are the courts-martial of the National Army of Liberation which have tried and condemned to death a number of "enemies of the State."
As regards the second part of the Question, Marshal Tito proclaimed on 21st November last an amnesty to all persons serving in or assisting Mihailovic's forces or the Croat and Slovene Domobrans who reported to the Partisan authorities by 15th January. This amnesty was not 1428 applicable to persons guilty of crimes such as murder, rape, arson and looting.
§ Mr. LoftusCould my right hon. Friend give an assurance that concentration camps are not part of the machinery of government in Yugoslavia?
§ Mr. LawI have given the House the position of the penal code as I understand it, and I have nothing to add to what I have said.
§ Captain McEwenWould it not be correct to call this an ad hoc penal code?