The London Agreement, dated 8 August 1945, was a document signed by the four major European powers (France, UK, US and USSR) which laid out an agreement for the prosecution of war criminals by those four countries.
This agreement was one of the foundations for the International Military Tribunal (IMT) which took place at Nuremburg.
THE LONDON AGREEMENT
Agreement by the Government of the USA, the Provisional Government of the French Republic, the Government of the UK of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the USSR for the Prosecution and Punishment Of the Major War Criminals of the European Axis.
Whereas the United Nations have from time to time made declarations of their intention that War Criminals shall be brought to justice;
And Whereas the Moscow Declaration of 10/30/1943 on German atrocities in Occupied Europe stated that those German Officers and men and members of the Nazi Party who have been responsible for or have taken a consenting part in atrocities and crimes will be sent back to the countries in which abominable deeds were done in order that they may be judged and punished according to the laws of these liberated countries and of the free Governments that will be created herein;
And Whereas this Declaration was stated to be without prejudice to the case of major criminals whose offenses have no particular geographical location and who will be punished by the joint decision of the Governments of the Allies; Now Therefore the Government of the United States of America, the Provisional Government of the French Republic, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (hereinafter called “the Signatories”) acting in the interests of all the United Nations and by their representatives duly authorized thereto have concluded this Agreement.
ARTICLE ONE
There shall be established after consultation with the Control Council for Germany an International Military Tribunal for the trial of war criminals whose offences have no particular geographical location whether they be accused individually or in their capacity as members of organizations or groups or in both capacities.
ARTICLE TWO
The constitution, jurisdiction and functions of the International Military Tribunal shall be those set out in the Charter annexed to this Agreement, which Charter shall form an integral part of this Agreement.
ARTICLE THREE
Each of the Signatories shall take the necessary steps to make available for the investigation of the charges and trial the major war criminals detained by them who are to be tried by the International Military Tribunal. The Signatories shall also use their best endeavours to make available for investigation of the charges against and the trial before the International Military Tribunal such of the major war criminals as are not in the territories of any of the Signatories.
ARTICLE FOUR
Nothing in this Agreement shall prejudice the provisions established by the Moscow Declaration concerning the return of war criminal to the countries where they committed their crimes.
ARTICLE FIVE
Any Government of the United Nations may adhere to this agreement by notice given through the diplomatic channel to the Government of the United Kingdom, who shall inform the other signatory and adhering Governments of each such adherence.
ARTICLE SIX
Nothing in this Agreement shall prejudice the jurisdiction or the powers of any national or occupation court established or to be established in an allied territory or in Germany for the trial of war criminals.
ARTICLE SEVEN
This agreement shall come into force on the day of signature and shall remain in force for the period of one year and shall continue thereafter, subject to the right of any Signatory to give, through the diplomatic channel, one month’s notice of intention to terminate it. Such termination shall not prejudice any proceedings already taken or any findings already made in pursuance of this Agreement.
In Witness Whereof the Undersigned have signed the present Agreement. Done in quadruplicate in London 8/8/1945 each in English, French and Russian, and each text to have equal authenticity.
For the Government of the United States of America, Robert H. Jackson.
For the Provisional Government of the French Republic, Robert Falco.
For the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, C. Jowitt.
For the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, I. Nikitchenko; A. Trainin.