30 Nov. 45
to Count One, which is the Count that has been solely discussed
up to the present date.
DR. NELTE: Do you mean, Mr. President, that in order to enable
the Defense to cross-examine the witness, there will be a recess
after the interrogation by the Prosecution during which Counsel may
discuss the questions with their clients? The witness Lahousen, as
far as I recall, has never until now been mentioned by the
Prosecution.
THE PRESIDENT: Is that all you have to say?
DR. NELTE: Yes
THE PRESIDENT: I think the Tribunal would like to hear Counsel
for the United States upon the agreement which counsel for the
Defendant Keitel alleges, namely, an agreement that what was to be
discussed on the following day should be communicated to defendants'
counsel beforehand.
MR. JUSTICE JACKSON: I know of no agreement to informed
defendants' counsel of any witness, nor of his testimony; nor would I
want to make such. There are security reasons involved in disclosing
to Defense Counsel the names of witnesses, which I don't need to
enlarge upon, I am quite sure.
We did advise them that they would be given information as to the
documentary matters, and I think that has been kept.
As to witnesses, however, a matter of policy arises. These
witnesses are not always prisoners. They have to be treated in
somewhat different fashion than prisoners; and the protection of
their security is a very important consideration where we are trying
this case, in the very hotbed of the Nazi organization with which
some of Defense Counsel were identified.
THE PRESIDENT: I think, Mr. Justice Jackson, that that is
sufficient. If you tell the Tribunal that there was no such
agreement, the Tribunal will, of course, accept that.
MR. JUSTICE JACKSON: I know of nothing of that character,
relating to witnesses. That does apply to documents.
We find it very difficult to know just the meaning of the ruling
which the Court has just announced. Count One of the Indictment is a
conspiracy count, covering the entire substantive part of the
Indictment. There are problems, of course, of overlapping, which I
had supposed had been worked out between the prosecutors until this
morning. It is impossible, trying a conspiracy case, to keep from
mentioning the fact that the act, which was the object of the
conspiracy, was performed. In fact, that is a part of the evidence of
the conspiracy.