*EPF407 03/29/01
Text: Resolution Decries Treatment of U.S. Civilian WWII Prisoners
(Proposed resolution says Axis nations owe Americans an apology) (570)

The mistreatment of Americans at the hands of the Axis Powers -- Germany, Italy, and Japan -- during World War II is the object of a proposed resolution in the House of Representatives.

Representative Eliot Engel (Democrat of New York) introduced House Resolution 102 (H. Res. 102) March 27. The resolution notes that the Axis Powers "captured and incarcerated 18,745 United States civilians who were living or traveling abroad during World War II, of which 1,704 died or were executed in captivity."

The resolution's authors say American civilian prisoners of war "were subjected to barbaric prison conditions and endured torture, starvation, and disease."

Engel, a member of the Congressional Human Rights Caucus, was joined by three other lawmakers in sponsoring the resolution. Representative Benjamin Gilman (Republican of New York), the chairman emeritus of the House International Relations Committee, was among these sponsors.

The imprisonment of American civilians by the Axis Powers during World War II and the conditions of their incarceration "violated international human rights principles," H. Res. 102 states.

The resolution calls on the countries that helped in the incarceration of American civilians during World War II to formally apologize to them and their families.

Following is the text:

(begin text)

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the maltreatment of United States civilian prisoners captured by the Axis Powers during World War II. (Introduced in the House)

HRES 102 IH
107th CONGRESS
1st Session

H. RES. 102

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the maltreatment of United States civilian prisoners captured by the Axis Powers during World War II.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 27, 2001

Mr. ENGEL (for himself, Mrs. LOWEY, Mr. GILMAN, and Mrs. KELLY) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the maltreatment of United States civilian prisoners captured by the Axis Powers during World War II.

Whereas the Axis Powers captured and incarcerated 18,745 United States civilians who were living or traveling abroad during World War II, of which 1,704 died or were executed in captivity;

Whereas these civilian prisoners of war were subjected to barbaric prison conditions and endured torture, starvation, and disease;

Whereas the incarceration of these United States civilians and the conditions of such incarceration violated international human rights principles; and

Whereas the vast majority of these civilian prisoners of war have never received any formal recognition or compensation for their suffering, despite the physical and emotional trauma they endured: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That --

(1) it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the incarceration of United States civilians by the Axis Powers during World War II and the conditions of such incarceration violated international human rights principles; and

(2) the House of Representatives --

(A) extends its sympathies to the brave men and women who endured the terrible hardships of such incarceration and to their families; and

(B) encourages foreign nations that contributed to the incarceration of United States civilians during World War II to formally apologize to these individuals and their families.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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