28 Nov. 45
"In early 1935 the Austrian Foreign
Minister, Berger-Waldenegg, informed me that in the course of a
conversation with Von Papen, the latter had remarked, 'Yes, you have
your French and English friends now, and you can have your
independence a little longer.' The Foreign Minister, of course, told
me this remark in German, but the foregoing is an accurate
translation. The Foreign Minister told me that he had replied to Von
Papen, 'I am glad to have from your own lips your own opinion which
agrees with what your Chief has just said in the Saar and which you
have taken such pains to deny.' Von Papen appeared to be terribly
upset when he realized just what he had said and tried to cover his
statements, but according to Berger-Waldenegg, kept constantly
getting into deeper water.
"Von Papen undoubtedly achieved some success, particularly
with men like Glaise-Horstenau and others who had long favored the
Grossdeutschtum idea, but who nevertheless had been greatly disturbed
by the fate of the Catholic Church. Without conscience or scruple,
Von Papen exploited his reputation and that of his wife as ardent and
devout Catholics to overcome the fears of these Austrians in this
respect."
May I inquire if the Court expect to take a short recess?
THE PRESIDENT: Yes. We will adjourn now for 10 minutes
[A recess was taken.]
THE PRESIDENT: The Tribunal wishes to make it clear, if I did not
make it clear when I spoke before, that if Defense Counsel wish to
put interrogatories to Mr. Messersmith upon his affidavit they may
submit such interrogatories to the Tribunal in writing for them to be
sent to Mr. Messersmith to answer.
FLOTTENRICHTER OTTO KRANZBUHLER (Counsel for Defendant
Dönitz): I do not know whether my question has yet been
answered. or by what it has been made known by the President of the
Court.
In the testimony of Mr. Messersmith, Dönitz' name was
mentioned. It appears on Page 4 of the German version. I should like
to read the whole paragraph:
"Admiral Karl Dönitz was not
always in an amicable frame of mind. He was not a National Socialist
when the National Socialists came to power"...
THE PRESIDENT: This passage was not read in evidence, was it?