§ 1. Mr. Skeffington-Lodgeasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many senior German military officers in the custody of the Allies have committed suicide since their capture; and what accounts for the long delay in bringing to trial those held for this purpose.
§ Mr. BevinNo senior German military officer has committed suicide while in British custody and awaiting trial as a war criminal. I am aware from announcements in the Press that certain German senior military officers have committed suicide in the custody of our Allies, but I have no knowledge of the actual number of such cases. I am informed that, in this country, there has been no undue delay in bringing these persons to trial, in view of the complicated task of examining the evidence connecting senior officers with individual war crimes.
§ Mr. Skeffington-LodgeCan my right hon. Friend give any indication of how long it will be before these trials are completed? Will he bear in mind that public opinion in this country very much dislikes the long drawn out process which has developed, and that there are people, like myself, who altogether condemn the Nuremberg Trials?
§ Mr. BevinI cannot say how long it will take when a matter gets into the hands of the law. After all, it took six or seven years to commit these crimes.