During World War II, at the behest of the British Government, selected Monopoly sets were "modified" to include a compass and a silk map and local currency, and then made part of Red Cross packages being sent to Allied Prisoners of War in Axis controlled Europe. Prisoners were instructed to look for a special mark on the special sets, which were produced in a separate part of the toy maker's facilities. All very hush hush during and even for long after the war. The concern for secrecy was that there might be another big war and the Government wanted to be able to play the same game, so to speak. As we now know, no such war broke out, and thank God it didn't.
But, someone commented on this and asked the 2010 question.
Would this constitute an improper use of Red Cross facilities and agreements by the Allies? Did it endanger the continued ability of the Red Cross to function?That is bad enough, this violation of the rules of war and all that. But, the person mused:
Would this constitute something that would deserve prosecution, if it were publicized then (or now)? Were government officials who knowingly participated in this program operating in violation of international law and agreements?I guess the answer is yes.
Sadly yours — Cliff
2 comments:
It might depend on which administration was in office whether something like this would stir up much attention. In the days of Ronald Reagan, probably not much dust would have spewed forth.
It seems to me that war is hardly an honorable thing, and the folks who engage in it, while perhaps ascribing to their own standards of ethics and morality, are certainly not constrained by that of the enemy. In our own regulations regarding capture by the enemy, one is expected to resist by all means available to take every opportunity to escape.
I find it curious if not completely unrealistic that given that reality, any effort to assist that escape or resistance is deemed "prosecutable." I think Pogo nailed it, we tend to blow our own foot off.
In my view, too bad the Monopoly pieces were so small. We should have embedded a .45 cal pistol in each.
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