A subsidiary gesture, which would I believe further assist in mitigating a very sorry story would be for the British Government to assume responsibility for maintenance of the cemetery outside Lienz, where the bodies of Cossacks killed or driven to suicide by the British are interred. In addition it would be surely be appropriate to arrange for official representation at commemorative services held there each year on the anniversary.

have not gone into the question of comparable crimes perpetrated at the same time by the same military authority against tens of thousands of equally helpless Yugoslav refugees, but it goes without saying that the same principles apply in their case.

I devoutly hope, Sir, that you may consider these two grave matters with the attention and urgency they deserve, particularly in view of your commendable determination to bring Serbian war criminals to justice. In such circumstances it could not but seriously damage the interests of humanity and justice were it to continue to be held that a war crime ceases to be such if perpetrated by an Englishman.

Yours faithfully,

Count Nikolai Tolstoy

Letters Table of Contents

Previous Page

Next Page

Nikolai's Home Page