§ 68. Mr. Thomas Reidasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many alleged German war criminals are detained by British authorities; and if it is proposed to try them all.
§ Mr. MayhewOn 25th September, the most recent date for which statistics are available, there were 1,129 Germans in custody who were on or awaiting trial for suspected war crimes, or whose cases were in various stages of preparation. Some of these cases may have to be dropped for lack of evidence. Otherwise, it is intended so far as possible to bring all cases to trial. To avoid prolonging war crimes trials unduly proceedings may be dropped in cases where the accused has been in custody for six months or more, and where the sentence is unlikely to exceed one year's imprisonment.