A SPECTATOR'S NOTEBOOK
IMPATIENCE over the Belsen trials seems to be growing, and ought to be. It is perfectly right, and in true accord with the best tradi- tions of British justice, that the accused should be adequately defended and anything that can be said for them said. But there are limits. It would almost appear as if the relevant authorities were determined to get Kramer and his Kramerish colleagues acquitted at any price. The defence is being strengthened. Some high authority on inter- national law is secured to adduce what can only be technical argu- ments—for the single relevant question is whether the prisoners com- mitted the crimes they arz charged with, or whether they didn't. As to that, the evidence is on record. I express no judgement on it ; that is the court's business ; but everyone who reads the papers can form his own. The handling of the war prisoners as a whole provokes little enthusiasm. It was understood at one time—and there was good reason for understanding it—that the justice to be meted out to the chief political criminals, Hitler, Himmler, Goering, Ribbentrop and the like, would be short and summary, nothing more than reliable evidence and identification being required. Himmler, and presumably Hitler, are out of reach, but the other two will apparently be brought to formal and protracted trial in due course, and be able, it must be supposed, to enlist in their defence the elite of the British Bar. I hope not ; but if Kramer can, why not Goering? This is a case in which the Russians have some excuse for failing to understand us.
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