UN Slams Churchill, Roosevelt And Hitler
By Irwin N. Graulich (08/13/04)
December 1944:
Both the Allies and the National Socialist government of Germany are violating international legal obligations and undermining prospects for peace, a senior UN official told the Security Council. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in what he called a "depressingly familiar" monthly briefing, said Wednesday that there was little room to believe that either side would take the first steps to implement any real type of "road map" to peace.
Until and unless the Allies and the duly elected German government take the necessary measures to restore momentum towards peace, the stalemate will continue, said Annan, directing his moral persuasion towards Prime Minister Churchill, President Roosevelt and Chancellor Hitler.
Secretary-General Annan continued, "America, England and Russia have an obligation to protect German civilians as well as the many innocent Nazi families and their children. He further explained that "destroying property, homes and businesses in cities such as Berlin, Dresden, Leipzig and Hamburg and the occupation of Europe by American forces has no moral justification." The scale of destruction being carried out by the Allied armies raises concerns about "collective punishment."
"Herr Hitler's democratically elected government has obligations" announced a passionate Annan while explaining German obligations under international agreements and treaties signed with previous Prime Minister Chamberlain as part of the Munich Pact. Protecting Germany's children from collateral damage is part of the UN's Human Rights mandate. "This body recognizes that the Allied governments equally disregarded human rights with military responses that have led to extensive collateral damage."
Annan mentioned "a new and worrying pattern" where rumors show that some European Jews may have been singled out for human rights abuses. UN special envoy, Terje Roed-Larsen has uncovered numerous minor mistreatment cases, especially in rural Polish towns. "Perhaps the government of Germany is not living up to its moral obligations," said Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Kieran Prendergast. He added, "hard evidence may be emerging where SS troops have been detected rounding up Gypsies, Homosexuals, Jews and the elderly for a harsh delousing process, before internment into POW camps."
The International Red Cross has been given limited access to POW camp sites where reports of improper diet and lack of exercise run rampant. Annan cited specific incidents of German SS soldiers mistreating elderly Jews in the towns of Bialystok, Volkevysk and Dobremeil. This leads to the inevitable "cycle of violence," explained Annan.
For each side to site the actions of the other does not in any way excuse it from fulfilling its own obligations, Annan told the Council. There can be no preconditions to the observance of humanitarian law and international agreements. This great world body will be working day and night, alongside the UN Human Rights Commission under the leadership of Syria, Libya and Sudan, to draft a real peace plan which will be a true road map for all parties.
The Security Council has begun to outline a series of parallel and reciprocal steps for achieving a lasting peace with Germany and Japan living alongside its neighbors with secure and recognizable borders. Undersecretary Prendergast criticized the American government for a recently uncovered "top secret plan to develop WMD's" which could indeed be used against large population centers, leading to perhaps hundreds of thousands of civilian casualties. This would not be considered in any way "a proportional response" to either Pearl Harbor or German aggression in Europe.
The American government has not responded to the United Nations' request to dismantle any WMD program delaying any potential for a negotiated settlement. Prendergast concluded that the full Security Council will assess the situation on the ground and examine appropriate actions. Donors and Human Rights activists will meet in New York to study a course of action that would assist all parties in achieving a true, lasting peace.
We at the UN are totally committed to bringing about "The Final Solution" to this conflict, said Annan before a lucheon crowd at the Waldorf-Astoria. This can all be accomplished through "a solution based on mutual tolerance, respect and dignity."
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