23 JUNE 1990, Page 25

Sir: Ex post facto legislation is only 'in- herently objectionable'

(Leading article, 2 June) where it (per Willes J. in Phillips v Eyre 1870 LR6 QB1 at 23) 'changes the character of past transactions carried out upon the faith of the then existing law'. The alleged acts in the War Crimes Bill were illegal at the time — the Bill goes to jurisdiction, not justiciability.

There is a good case for holding that such crimes are subject to universal juris- diction and so Britain does have the right to try them. Are we to refuse to do justice because no one else will?

David Wolfson

Selwyn College, Cambridge