Balkan Justice ?
Much of the evidence that has been produced by Mihailovitch in his defence does nct reflect to the credit of this country. It is not, for example, pleasant to read of British agents negotiating with the Germans or collaborating with the leader of the Chetniks in his efforts to hinder the Partisans, who even at that time were apparently known to be playing a role of importance against the common enemy. If this is a true statement of some of the facts, then clearly it calls for a full statement from the Ministers concerned. But is it a true state- ment? Or does it savour too much of the tortuous intrigue of Balkan politics? There is no reason to believe that Mihailovitch is perjuring himself under pressure, but doubts as to the fairness of his trial or the veracity of any evidence before the Court are bound to occur so long as the Yugoslavian Government refuse permission to British and American witnesses to appear and explain openly the part they played in these unhappy events. It is necessary to review this decision so that when the findings of the Court are announced there shall be no misgivings that it was politics and not justice that held the balance.
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