§ 19. Mr. Skeffington-Lodgeasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is now the position of those convicted of murder in the British zone of Germany.
Mr. McNeilHis Majesty's Government have reviewed the position in regard to the imposition of the death penalty in the British zones of Germany and Austria. In Germany, British subjects will, if charged with murder, normally be tried under English law, and will be subject to such penalty as is in force in England at the time. In view of the prospect of the law being amended during the current Session of Parliament, any death sentences on British subjects convicted of murder would, following the procedure in the United Kingdom, he commuted. In all the other cases where the death penalty can at present be imposed it has been decided to make 1714 no change. These cases are: War crimes and crimes against humanity; convictions for murder according to the German penal code, and convictions for serious offences against the security of the occupying forces under Military Government legislation.