A. No. This is the first time I have heard about it. What sort of congress is that? I have never heard that it took place. What is it supposed to be?
Q. This document was deposited -
A. I only know about one congress. I asked the Fuehrer not to hold it. But about one which took place I know nothing at all. I should like you to give me some more detailed information on that, please.
Q. The document was handed over to the Tribunal, and I would like to ask you one question. You testified that you were unaware of this meeting where there were present thirty-one persons who nearly all belonged to the diplomatic service. I will indicate to you that during this meeting the counsellor of the embassy made a declaration which was reported in the following terms: that the Jews should be deported into the eastern territories. I suggest that this declaration made by the counsellor of the embassy in the presence of 31 people belonging to your service probably voiced your own attitude on these matters.
A. I don't even know what you are referring to. Please, may I have some information regarding what we are concerned with? I am not the least informed. I have already told you once before that I know nothing about a congress except that there was one which I stopped. That was an international one which was supposed to be held, but regarding a congress of diplomats I know nothing. Please would you place at my disposal the document so that I can define my attitude.
Q. I do not intend to show you this document. I read one sentence contained in this document, and I now am asking you merely if this phrase represent your opinion or not. You can answer yes or no.
A. In that case I want to state again that there wasn't a congress; it didn't take place; it isn't proced.
DR. HORN: Mr. President, I object to that question if the opportunity is not afforded the Defendant to give a thruthful answer.
THE PRESIDENT: The Tribunal thinks the question was proper.
Q. I ask you whether this phrase which I have read out to you reflects your opinion.
A. In that case may I ask you to repeat the sentence. I didn't understand it.
Q. The speaker said that while the solution of Jewish matters in Palestine and several other ones would have to be thrown out, one would have to carry out the deportation of Jews in the eastern territories. Was that your policy?
A. No, it was not.
Q. Your attention was drawn to the fact that the Italian authorities in France protected Jews against persecution by Germans?
A. Yes. I recollect that there was some such matter, but I don't remember exactly.
Q. Did you take any steps about the result of this with the Italian Government?
A. I recollect that on one occasion I talked with either Mussolini or Count Ciano about certain sabotage acts which had occurred in Grance and that one would have to be on the alert. And I think in that connection the Jewish problem was discussed too.
Q. I ask that you be shown Document D-734, which I would like to deposit as French document 1501. This note is headed:
"Note of a conversation between the Reich Foreign Minister and the Duce in the presence of Von Mackensen, Alferi and Bastianini on the 25th of February 1943." I would like to read with you the second paragraph on this page:
"Further, the Reich foreign minister dealt with the Jewish question. The Duce was aware that Germany took up a radical position on the question of the treatment of Jews. As a result of the development of the war in Russia it had gained even greater clarity. All Jews had been transported from Germany and from the territories occupied by her to reserves in the east. He, the Reich foreign minister, knew that this measure was described as cruel, particularly by enemies, but it was necessary in order to be able to carry the war through to a successful conclusion."
I shall not read the following paragraph, but the fourth:
"France also had taken measures against the Jews, which were extremely useful.
They were only temporary, because here too the final solution would be in the deportation of the Jews to the East. He, the Reich Foreign Minister, knew that in Italian military circles -- just occasionally among German military people too-- the Jewish problem was not sufficiently appreciated. Only this could he understand an order of the Commands Supreme which cancelled measures in the Italian occupation zone of France which had been taken against the Jews by the French authorities acting under German influence.
"The Duce contested the accuracy of this report and traced it back to the French tactics of causing dissension between Germany and Italy."
Now I shall ask you a question: A short while ago you told us that one wanted to send all the Jews to Madagascar. Is Madagascar in the eastern territories you are talking of?
A. I didn't understand. Madagascar what?
Q. You were talking in this document of deporting Jews towards the eastern territories, and a short while ago you spoke to us of settling the Jews in Madagascar.
A. No. That was the Fuehrer's plan. This document refers to the fact that a large-scale espionage system had been uncovered in France, and on the occasion of a journey into Italy the Fuehrer told me to talk with Mussolini and make sure that these Jews who concerned themselves with espionage and sabotage were stopped from doing so. I should like to say right away that on priniple I knew what the Fuehrer's plan was, namely, that the European Jews were either to be resettled in Madagascar or in Africa or in the East. That was generally known in Germany. That is what we are concerned with here in this document. I know that at that time a lot of unpleasant matters had occurred, and the Fuehrer was convinced that this had to be attributed to Jewish organizations which were located in southern France. I now recollect that at that time I discussed the matter very minutely with Mussolini and that we agreed to take corresponding measures. These Jews were helping the American and British intelligence service and supplying information to them. At least that is what the Fuehrer was continuously told.
Q. You said, did you not, that all Jews had to be deported to the eastern territories? Please reply yes or no.
A. Whether I was in favor?
Q. Germany deported from German territory and territories occupied by her all Jews to eastern territories. That is true, is it not?
A. I don't know what this document is. I don't know what I did say in detail. But at any rate I knew that the Fuehrer had ordered that the Jews of the occupied territories in Europe were to be transported to a certain district in the east where they were to be settled. I knew that. But the carrying out of these measures was not my task as foreign minister or the task of the foreign office. But I did know that this was the Fuehrer's wish. In this connection I do remember that I received the order from his to discuss the matter with the Italian Government so that they too would introduce corresponding measures regarding the Jewish problem. That applied to other countries too, where we had to send telegrams quite frequently, so that these countries did solve the Jewish question.
THE PRESIDENT: Did you read to the witness the second paragraph beginning "Further, the Reich Foreign Minister dealt with the Jewish question"? Did you read that to the witness?
M. FAURE: Yes, Mr. President, the second paragraph. That is the paragraph which I have just been reading.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, you read the third one, but I don't know whether you read the second one too. You read the second one too, did you? Very well.
M. FAURE: Yes, I read it as well, Mr. President.
THE PRESIDENT: The document is a new document, is it not?
M. FAURE: Yes, it is a new document. It is a document which I would like to deposit under the number 1501. It is originally D-734 of the British document books.
THE PRESIDENT: Has the Defendant said whether he admist that it is a substantially accurate account of the conversation?
THE WITNESS: I can't say for certain, Mr. President, what I did say at the time, but I gather that, from the words that the Jews were spreaders of information -- I do remember that a large espionage and sabotage organization was going at the time in France, and that the Fuehrer ordered me in this connection to talk to Mussolini, since the Italians were working against certain measures we had introduced in France.
So I talked with Mussolini, and the Fuehrer was of the opinion that one would have to create clear conditions.
THE PRESIDENT: I believe you already told us that. The question that I asked was whether you agreed that it was a substantially accurate account of the conversation.
THE WITNESS: I consider that in certain points the report is incorrect, but basically the position was as I have just explained it. BY M. FAURE: you not, this Jewish question?
A Yes. I had to have repeated conferences with the Hungarian Government to get then to do something about the Jewish problem. The Fuehrer was extremely keen on it. So I talked about the question to the Hungarian Ambassador at a time when we mostly were concerned with the fact that in a certain part of Budapest, which I don't know very well, the Jews were to be concentrated somewhere. That was Point 1. since in the preceding years it had become clear that Jewish influence was decisive here to bring Hungary to a separate peace. tion or one of the conversations which you had with Horthy. It was that of the 17th of April 1943. It is that one numbered 736, which has been deposited under GB-283. asked this witness if he admitted having compiled this account, and this was confirmed by Schmidt. This bears the following note, at the bottom of the first paragraph:
"The Foreign Minister declared that the Jews were to be sent to concentration camps. There is no other solution."
You did say that, did you not?
A In these words, most certainly not. But I would like to say this on *---* ct. These minutes were apparently prepared by Ambassador Schmidt, as *---* habit, days after a long discussion of the Fuehrer with Horthy.
*---* already said repeatedly that the Fuehrer ordered me to talk to *---* ian Government, their Ambassador, so as to bring about a solution *---* wish question.
At that time when Horthy visited the Fuehrer, the Fuehrer emphasized to him the question very strongly, and I remember exactly that following the discussion I talked to Ambassador Schmidt, saying that I didn't quite understand the Fuehrer.
That remark here was certainly not made in this way. Apparently Horthy said that after all he couldn't beat the Jews to death. It is possible that I said that was out of the question, andI tried to get Horthy back to the idea that he would have to do something about the Jewish question in Budapest, which means that he would, have to carry out the concentration which had been desired by the Fuehere. It was probably in that connection that this remark of mine fell, and this is what it may refer to.
I want to add that at that time the situation was that on Himmler's part there had been repeated calls upon us, indicating that Himmler wished to handle the Jewish question in Hungary himself. I didn't want that, since this would probably create a foreign political difficulties. to that question, I have often tried to act as an intermediary, but at the same time to get the Hungarians to do something in the matter. Therefore, if some remark, which was taken from a long conversation and summarized here, did contain some such statement, then it certainly never meant that I wanted the Jews beaten to death. That was 100 per cent against my inner attitude. I will have to ask you again. Are those minutes correct, or are they not correct?
A No, in this form it can't be correct. These are minutes which I have never seen personally. Otherwise, I would have at once pointed out that this is nonsense and could be misunderstood, so I hadn't really seen the minutes. It was herein Nurnberg that I saw them for the first time.
I can only say that it seems to have happened that I did say "Well, you can't beat the Jews to death; well, then, do something, so that the Fuehrer is at last satisfied about it."
And about the concentration of the Jews. That was, at any rate at that time, the aim we had. In other words, we didn't want to make things worse there.
We were trying to do something in Hungary so that no other department took matters in hand, thus causing foreign political difficulties for the Foreign Office.
THE PRESIDENT: Are you passing from this document?
M. FAURE: I was continuing to speak of this document in more general terms.
THE PRESIDENT: Did you say you were passing from it? to the Regent Horthy that Jews ought to be taken to concentration camps.
THE WITNESS: Yes, I consider that possible. I think that is the case. It was our order at the time that a concentration camp was to be installed near Budapest where theJews could be concentrated, and the Fuehrer had given me the order a long time before that to talk about the Jewish problem to the Hungarians. There were to be two points: One, removal of the Jews from important Government positions. Two, as there were so many Jews in Budapest, there was to be a concentration of Jews in certain parts of the city of Budapest.
THE PRESIDENT: I understand your suggestion to be that this document is inaccurate.
THE WITNESS: That isn't accurate, that's right, yes. The way I would like to put it is that it appears when you read the document as if I had considered possible a beating to death or destruction of the Jews. That is perfectly untrue, for what I said on the occasion which was written down later could only be understood so that I wished that something was done in Hungary which would solve the Jewish problem so that no other department would interfere in the matter. The Fuehrer often talked to me about it, very seriously, and said that the question of the Jews in Hungary -
THE PRESIDENT: (Interposing) You have told us that, I think already. What I wanted to ask you was this: Are you suggesting that Schmidt, who drew up this memorandum, invented the last few sentences, beginning with the words:
"If the Jews there did not want to work they were shot. If they could not work they had to succumb. They had to be treated like tuberculosis bacil with which a healthy body may become infected.
This was not cruel if one remembered that innocent creatures of nature, such as hares or deers, have to be killed so that no harm is caused by them. Why should the beasts who wanted to bring us Bolshevism be spared more? Nations which did not rid themselves of Jews perished. One of the most famous examples of this was the downfall of a people who were once so proud, the Persians, who now lead a pitiful existence as Armenians." them?
THE WITNESS: Mr. President, I should like to say that I myself was amazed by those words of the Fuehrer, and I didn't quite understand them. But this attitude can probably only be understood in this way, that the Fuehrer believed that the Jews had brought about this war, and that that caused his fanatical hatred for them. and we agreed that this was the first time the Fuehrer had used words in connection with the Jewish problem which I could no longer understand. These words were no doubt not invented by Schmidt. The Fuehrer did express himself in some such way at that time. That is true.
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, M. Faure. BY M. FAURE: tration camps in Hungary and that you said yesterday that you did not know there were any in Germany. Is that not so? What I said was that the Fuehrer had given me orders to talk to the Hungarian Government so that the Jews were concentrated in certain parts of the city of Budapest. About my knowledge of concentration camps in Germany, I have already talked yesterday about that.
Q You admitted that you knew Hitler's policy to deport all Jews and you admitted that insofar as you were competent as Minister for Foreign affairs, you assisted this policy, did you not? That is right, is it not?
A In this sphere too I have obeyed the Fuehrer's orders as a faithful follower, but I have always tried to do everything to alleviate this position, which can be proved by witnesses.
Even in 1943 I submitted a long memorandum to the Fuehrer in which I asked him urgently to alter the Jewish policy completely and basically, and I could quote many other examples.
to this persecution of Jews, but you did help to realize them, is that not so? that I have never been anti-Semitic in that sense, but that I was a faithful follower of Adolf Hitler. arresting French people, did you not?
A The arresting of Frenchmen?
Q Yes, Did you or did you not give orders to arrest Frenchmen?
Q Can you be more precise on that subject?
A No, I can't recollect any details. At any rate, I know that Frenchmen were arrested, but just how far we carried that out, that I don't know. I think it was in 1944, shortly before the invasion, that the Fuehrer had given an order that a large number of important French members of the Resistance Movement were to be arrested, and I think that we were informed about that. Therefore it is possible that we cooperated in that action, but I can't remember the details. These were the arrests of these elements, which, in the event of an invasion, would lead the Resistance Movement, thus falling to the back of the German troops But I can't tell you any details about that now Number 1506. It is an affidavit, by Dr. Ka*chen. I shall read some passages from this document.
"At the end of 1943--IV must have been in December--there was at the Foreign Office a conference on the measures to be taken in France. As I was in Berlin I was Immediately summoned to it. I took part in this conference, Ribbentrop, the Secretary of State, Ambassador Abetz, another member of the Foreign Office, whose name I f orget, the head of the SIPO-it must have been Kaltenbrunner--the head of to Police Department in France, and a representative of the High Military Command, a Colonel Kossman, if my memory serves me right.
The banister stated the following:
"The Fuehrer expects that in France particular attention be paid. All German officers will have to carry out their duties more accurately. He sees arising a danger, in event of invasion, of those prominent Frenchmen who were not collaborators with Germany becoming active against her. This will constitute a dangerous element against the forces.
"In all ministerial University centers those people should be sought. He believes that it would be necessary to strike a blow against these people. He suggests a number of about 2,000 people. At a moment when it will be necessary to defend Europe against her enemy, there isno reason why be should not take preventive measures in France.
"As to the practical means of putting this into effect, Ambassador Abetz will have to take up this matter immediately in order to take account of all the questions that arise out of this matter."
A I remember that discussion very well. This was a Fuehrer order, and it was made with reference to the pending invasion, saying that measures were to be taken which would arrest all resistance elements which would fall into the back of the German Army. I consider that a perfectly obvious measure made by any military command interested in the welfare of its troops. in fact we carried out a comparatively small number ofarrests. We had little to do with the actual arrests which were carried out by the police, but it is perfectly clear that the conference did take place at the time, and that we carried out what had to be done at the time as was proposed, which is, in other words, the arrest of those elements which could become dangerous in case of an invasion. That is all.
M. FAURE: I have no further questions.
THE PRESIDENT: The Tribunal will adjourn.
(A recess was taken) Apr-2-M-RT-6-1
THE PRESIDENT: There are two things that want to say. One of them relates to the prosecution and one of them relates to the defense. It is desired that the prosecution should furnish documents to the interpreters when they are going to use documents in the course of examination or cross examination. Documents need not necessarily be in the language which the interpreter is going to use but there must be some document in some language, one of the languages, placed before the interpreters in order to assist.
The other point is, that I an told that the defendant's counsel are not getting their documents ready for the translation division in anything like the two weeks beforehand which was specified by the Tribunal. The Tribunal, it is true, said that the documents must be furnished to the Tribunal or the translating division two weeks ahead, if possible. These words "if possible" are being treated to lightly and the documents, I am told, are sometimes coming in as late as fortyeight hours before the case of the particular defendant is to be taken. That is not sufficient and it will lead to delay. T hat is all.
MR.DODD: May it please the Tribunal, in the course of the cross examination of this defendant by the French prosecution, reference was made to document PS3766 and I understood Dr. Horn to say that the document was not a captured document. That was my understanding of his statement . I am not altogether sure that that was what he said when he approached the microphone. So the record will be perfectly clear, I now wish to inform the Tribunal that it is a captured document and I do not know upon what basis Dr. Horn made that assertion
THE PRESIDENT: Dr. Horn.
DR. HORN: Mr. President, it was claimed that a captured document was in question However, I had no opportunity to check the matter, At the head of the document it said that we we re concerned with the US. Exhibit 3766-PS I had no opportunity to check the origin of this document and, therefore, I suggested that the French prosecution determine the origin of the document, and that was my sole objection, I did not dispute whether it was a captured document but I could not check on it.
THE PRESIDENT: Do any of the other prosecutors wish to ask questions of the defendant? Colonel Amen, the Tribunal hopes that you acre not going over ground which has already been gone over.
COLONEL AMEN: Most Certainly not, sir.
Apr-2-M-RT-6-2 BY COLONEL AMEN:
Q You speak English pretty well, Ribbentrop?
Q Almost as well as you speak German?
A No, that I wouldn't say, but in the past I was almost bi-lingual. In the course of years, I have forgotten a great deal and now it is quite difficult for me to speak English.
Q Do you know what is meant by a "yes man" in English?
AA "yes man"-- yes, I would consider that a man who says "yes" to things which he himself--It is a little hard for me to define because I am not exactly sure what you mean by it in English. In German I would define him as a man who obeys orders and is obedient and loyal.
Q And, as a matter of fact, you were a "yes man" for Hitler, isn't that correct? of a different opinion from his, had serious disputes with him, tried toresign several times, but when Hitler ordered, I always carried out his instructions. trial?
given in the course of these interrogations, and simply ask you to tell the Tribunal whether or not you made the answers that I read to you. That question can be answered yes or no, do you understand?
Q "I have been a loyal man to the Fuehrer to his last days. I have never gone back on him. I have been a loyal man to his last days, last hours, and I did not always agree with everything. On the contrary, I sometimes had very divergent views, but I promised to him in 1941 that I would keep faith in him. I gave him my word of honour that I would not get him into any difficulties."
Is that correct?
A Yes, that is correct to my recollection. I did not see the document and I did not sign any document, but I seem to recall that that is correct. any difficulties? could win this war for Germany, and therefore I did not want to make any difficulty for him, cause him any difficulty, and remained loyal to him unto the end. him, and you promised him that in '41, isn't that true?
A I said I would never cause him any difficulties, yes. Sometimes I was a difficult subordinate to him. I told him at the time that I would not cause him any trouble or difficulty.
Q In '41 you told him that no matter whether you differed with his opinion in the future, you would never press the point, isn't that true?
A (No response)
Q Well, approximately that, is that right? position -- that I would never cause him difficulties; if a serious divergence of opinion would appear, I would just keep back my own opinion.
Q Well, you gave him your word of honor to that effect, isn't that true?
Q And at that time you had talked about resigning, isn't that correct?
Q And that made the Fuehrer lose his temper and become ill, correct?
A Yes. "Ill" isn't exactly the correct term. He became quite excited, but I prefer not to mention the details.
Q Well, he said it was injuring his health, isn't that correct, and told you to stop arguing with him about any of these questions and do what he told you to do? Right? and especially since I do not believe that they would be of vital interest here, ascertaining if it is not a fact, and if you did not swear under oath, that on that occasion you swore to Hitler that you would never expresser press any divergent views to anything which he desired. Is that not correct? I told the Fuehrer that I would not cause him any trouble. After 1941 I had many a divergent view with him and told him about my opinions. of them into effect after 1941, were you?
A I didn't understand the question. I ask you to please repeat it. expressed to the Fuehrer on any of these questions after 1941, your suggestions being contrary to the Fuehrer's, were never put into effect. Isn't that correct? You always eventually did what the Fuehrer told you to do and what he wished, regardless of your own views. reply that it is not correct that Hitler never accepted proposals from after that; and I can answer question two that if Hitler uttered an expression or an opinion to me and gave an order, I carried the order through as a matter of course.
Q In other words, eventually you always said yes, isn't that correct?
Q Now, I am going to read you some more of your testimony:
"He" -- referring to the Fuehrer -- "considered me his most close collaborator. A very serious conversation we had then when I wanted to go away. I promised it to him and I have kept it to the last moment. It was sometimes very difficult, I can assure you, to keep this promise, and today I am sorry that I have given it. Perhaps it would have been better had I not given it, because it put me in a position that I could, since that moment, in very serious and important moments of this war, not talk to Hitler in that way which I would have liked to have talked to him, and in which, perhaps, I could have talked to him since this conversation in 1941.
"I must explain all this to you. If you don't know the background of these things you might think perhaps that as Foreign Minister during these last years I would like to say more about this. Perhaps I might say one could give some more information about this, but I want to be and remain loyal to this man, even after his death, as far as I can possibly do it. But I reserve myself, of course, the right for history also to show in keeping my promise, to show also the role which I have played in this whole drama."
Did you or did you not make these statements under oath to me?
Yes or no? Yes or no, please. To the second question, no, I testified under oath perhaps once or twice, but that isn't relevant now; This statement is not verbatim and it must have been inadequately translated. It is correct that I said that I was loyal to the Fuehrer and that I said further that I had divergent views from him, and that I was not always of the same opinion, and that is the quintessence of my statement. or no. Did you or did you not make those statements in the exact language that I just read them to you?
THE PRESIDENT: I think, Colonel Amen, he really did answer that,
COLONEL AMEN: But it is verbatim.
THE PRESIDENT: That is a matter of opinion. He says it is not verbatim,
COLONEL AMEN: Well, very good, your Lordship. BY COLONEL AMEN: just read to you, correct? particular testimony in English, did you not? applies in this case, I can't say. In any event, this statement was to be interpreted as I have already set forth. request, was it not?
Q At whose request?
A That I don't know. I believe it just happened that way, but I can't give you any particulars. I believe I spoke English most of the time and German only very seldom. you the same question, which I hope you will answer yes or no, namely: Did you give this testimony in the course of the interrogation:
"Q Do you feel that you have an obligation to the German people to historically set forth not only the good things, but the bad things, for their education in the future?
"A That is a terribly difficult question to answer.
"Q Does that counterbalance the loyalty you feel towards the Fuehrer?
"A I do not want to stand before the German people as being disloyal to the Fuehrer."
Did you make those statements?
A Yes, it is entirely possible, but I don't recall at this minute. We said so much in the course of the last few months, and my health was not the best, you know, so that I cannot recall each and every word.
Q All right. Now, see if you recall having made these statements:
" I always told the Fuehrer openly my view if he wanted to hear it, but before all decisions I had kept myself entirely back, but if the Fuehrer carried out his orders and acted in the sense of his decision.
In a few impressive manner. This was in the Polish crisis and also in the Russian question, because I considered this absolutely important and necessary, but since 1941 I had but very little weight and it was difficult to bring opinion through with the Fuehrer."
Do you recall having made those statements? Yes, or no, please.
THE PRESIDENT: Colonel Amen, the Tribunal has already heard a very isn't adding very much to what they have already heard.
The defendant
COLONEL AMEN: Very good, sir. I will pass to another subject. BY COLONEL AMEN: the political and the military situations, correct?
A I didn't quite get the last part of your question. between the political and the military elements.
A Yes. The Fuehrer always differentiated between these two aspects; yes for the military and not made available to your office, for example? Is that correct? little, that is correct. obtained was not made available to the military, is that correct? I do not know what information the military received from the Fuehrer.
Q Well, you told us that the Fuehrer's entire plan was to keep those political and military channels separate each from the other, correct? and I have testified to that effect several times already and for that reason I have just received knowledge of military documents here rather than before. That was in line with and in keeping with the secret decree of the Fuehrer that only those people who were concerned with it must be informed of it. jointly in foreign countries for your office, for the army and for the navy, isn't that true?
Q You are quite sure of that ?
Q And you are swearing to that?
A You mean agents who did what ? and for the navy at the same time, jointly ?
A I believe that improbable. It is possible that one man perhaps worked for different organizations but as far as concerned our organization that is quite impossible. We had a very small intelligence service and the intelligence service of the Reich worked, as far as I know, entirely separate from outs. It might be possible that a man here or there worked for more than one department. It is conceivable that at the embassy, just as British, American and Russian consular people were used for information services, but every other country does the same thing. right? line of principle is concerned. We never had secret agents, we never used them It might be that some department of the Foreign Office concerned with this might have had their agents and it is perhaps from this department that counter-espionage work was carried out or SD work was carried on, that is entirely possible.
Later I spoke with Hitler about intelligence work as I had marked differences with Himmler and through the good offices of Kaltenbrunner it was made possible to reach an agreement and to have certain intelligence reports put at our disposal also but this agreement did not function. I believe it had no practical value after 1944.
Q Will you look at Document Number 3817-PS, please? Will you files tell the Tribunal who Albrecht Haushofer was, please?
(witness handed document)
AAlbrecht Haushofer was a co-worker of mine in the earlier years. He was a man who concerned himself with Volkstum questions (German minority ques tions.)
Perhaps you will let no read the letter first. It is a letter of Haushofer? It is not signed..
Have you finished reading?
A No, not quite yet. Shall I just read the first trying to make this as short as we possibly can. Orient investigating various matters and making reports to you as early as 193 is entirely possible. it not?
A Isn't there some misunderstanding? Isn't this a letter of Count Duerkheim instead of Haushefer? Of course, you told me it was a letter of Haushofer and it is possible that Haushofer was in Tokio but I cannot at this point give you the details. At that time I sent Count Duerkheim to Tokio but it is entirely possible that Haushofer was there also.
DR. HORN (Counsel for defendant Ribbentrop): Mr. President, I can see that this letter does not contain a complete date or signature but Colonel Amen just told me that this letter was allegedly written in the year 1937 but in the year 1937 Ribbentrop was not Foreign Minister.