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26 Nov.
45
and a block of writing paper. Even the White Books of the
Foreign Office, for which he has asked, could not be placed at his
disposal. In view of the fact that the data concerning Germany's foreign
policy during the last 7 or 8 years is so extensive, the Defendant Von
Ribbentrop cannot possibly recall every single date, every event, every
document, et cetera, unless his memory is refreshed by his being
able to speak with his former colleagues.
Apart from this the
Defendant Von Ribbentrop has been in the habit of taking a great many
soporifics during the last 4 years, especially bromides, and his memory
has suffered in consequence. It would not be very helpful to the
investigation of historical truth in a field which interests not only
this Court, but also, to an even greater extent, the outside world, if
Von Ribbentrop during his examination, might have to state at every turn
that he could no longer recollect these details.
Defendant Von
Ribbentrop therefore applies to the Court and begs that his
above-mentioned colleagues be brought here and that he receive
permission to discuss with them matters pertaining to the Trial, in
order that he may prepare for further proceedings.
THE
PRESIDENT: The Tribunal has already intimated to defendant's counsel
that all applications should, as far as practicable, be made in writing,
and they consider that the applications which have now been made orally
should have been made in writing. They will consider the facts with
reference to the applications in respect of the Defendant Von
Ribbentrop's secretary. The other applications as to witnesses and
documents, which have been made in writing, have been considered, or
will be considered by the Tribunal.
DR. SAUTER: Mr. President,
may I say in this connection that the applications which I have today
submitted have been repeatedly lodged with the Court in writing, but my
client is anxious lest he experience difficulties in preparing for his
own hearing and the hearing of the defense witnesses.
THE
PRESIDENT: As was announced at the sitting on Friday, Counsel for the
Prosecution were to try to arrange with defendants' counsel some
satisfactory arrangement with reference to the production of documents
in the German language. In accordance with that announcement, Counsel
for the Prosecution saw Counsel for the Defense, and representatives of
the Prosecution and the Defense appeared before the Tribunal and the
Tribunal has provisionally made the following arrangement:
1.
That in the future, only such parts of documents as are read in court by
the Prosecution shall in the first instance be part of
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