This seems to be a fitting place at which to put on record the invaluable help which we have received from our Secretaries, Mr. In coming to a conclusion upon the evidence the Committee have been greatly assisted by these expressions of opinion, and have uniformly rejected every deposition on which an opinion adverse to the witness has been recorded. In many cases those who took the evidence have added their comments upon the intelligence and demeanour of the witnesses, stating the impression which each witness made, and indicating any cases in which the story told appeared to them open to doubt or suspicion. We feel certain that the instructions given have been scrupulously observed. We have seen and conversed with many of these gentlemen, and have been greatly impressed by their ability and by what we have gathered as to the fairness of spirit which they brought to their task. They were, in fact, to examine them, so far as the testimony given provided materials for cross-examination.

They were also directed to that the evidence critically, and as far as possible satisfy themselves, by putting questions which arose out of the evidence, that the witnesses were speaking the truth. They were instructed not to 'lead' the witnesses, or make any suggestions to them, and also to impress upon them the necessity for care and precision in giving their evidence. The depositions were in all cases taken down in this country by gentlemen of legal knowledge and experience, though, of course, they had no authority to administer an oath.

The labour involved in securing, in a comparatively short time, so large a number of statements from witnesses scattered all over the United Kingdom, made it necessary to employ a good many examiners. Morgan has collected a number of statements mainly from British soldiers, :which have also been submitted to the Committee. Grimwood Mears, barrister of the Inner Temple, whilst in addition Professor J. Nearly all of these were obtained under the supervision of Sir Charles Mathews, the Director of Public Prosecutions, and of Mr. More than 1,200 depositions made by these witnesses have been submitted to and considered by the Committee. Pursuant to this Minute steps were taken under the direction of the Home Office to collect evidence, and a great many persons who could give it were seen and examined.įor some three or four months before the appointment of the Committee, the Home Office had been collecting a large body of evidence. It stated the need that had arisen for investigating the accusations of inhumanity and outrage that had been brought against the German soldiers, and indicated the precautions to be taken in collecting evidence that would be needed to ensure its accuracy. In the month of September 1914 a Minute was, at the instance of the Prime Minister, drawn up and signed by the Home Secretary and the Attorney-General. It may be convenient that before proceeding to state how we have dealt with the materials, and what are the conclusions we have reached, we should set out the manner in which the evidence came into being, and its nature. ASQUITH, and to prepare a report for His Majesty's Government showing the conclusion at which they arrive on the evidence now available.' DIGBY, K.C., G.C.B., was appointed an additional member of the Committee on 22nd January 1915. Brodrick, barristers-at-law, to be Joint Secretaries to the Committee. To be a Committee to consider and advise on the evidence collected on behalf of His Majesty's Government as to outrages alleged to have been committed by German troops during the present War, cases of alleged maltreatment of civilians in the invaded territories, and breaches of the laws and established usages of war and to prepare a report for His Majesty's Government allowing the conclusion at which they arrive on the evidence now available.Īnd I appoint Viscount Bryce to be Chairman, and Mr.

FISHER, Vice-chancellor of the University of Sheffield and Report of the Committee on Alleged German Outrages Appointed by His Britannic Majesty's GovernmentĪnd Presided Over by the Right Hon.

Punished by kneeling on macaroni shells