7. Mr. Driberģasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will define the difference between a major war criminal within the scope of the Moscow Declaration of 1st November, 1943, and a person with the record and status of Count Grandi.
§ Mr. EdenIn the view of His Majesty's Government, the major war criminals referred to in the Moscow Declaration are those who by virtue of their high position have borne a pre-eminent responsibility for actions against the United Nations in violation of the accepted rules of war and of common humanity. With regard to Count Grandi, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave him 207 and the hon. Member for Bridgwater (Mr. Bartlett) on 28th February. If any of the United Nations has information about Grandi which leads them to take a different view, it is open to them to submit it to the War Crimes Commission.
Mr. DriberģAre not the international crimes of Italian Fascism precisely comparable, except in degree, with those of German Nazism, and is not Count Grandi's position exactly comparable with that of Ribbentrop? I mean as regards complicity in those crimes?
§ Mr. EdenI have said that no member of the United Nations has taken this action. If any wish to do so, it is open to them.
§ Mr. McGovernIs it not the position that a war criminal ceases to be a war criminal when he realises that his cause is lost and transfers his allegiance to the other side?