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29 Nov.
45
could be trusted by the Nazis; and that 5 days after the
Pact of July 11, 1936 between Germany and Austria, a pact which
specifically pledged the German Government not to interfere either
directly or indirectly in the internal affairs of Austria, including the
question of Austrian National Socialism, the Austrian Nazis met with
Hitler at Obersalzberg and received new instructions; and finally, that
Hitler then used Keppler, whose name we shall again meet in a short
while in a significant manner as his "contact man" with the
Austrian Nazis, with full authority to act for the Führer in
Austria and to work with the leaders of the Austrian Nazis.
Then
we offered Document 2247-PS, Exhibit USA-64, Von Papen's letter to
Hitler of May 17, 1935 that showed that Von Papen had been in contact
with Captain Leopold and it showed how Von Papen got Hitler to make a
solemn promise of Austria's independence in order to further Papen's
internal political gain in Austria.
Then we offered Document
2248-PS, Exhibit USA-63, Von Papen's letter of July 27, 1935, which
reviewed the situation 1 year after Dollfuss' death, and pointed out how
National Socialism could be made the link for the Anschluss and how
National Socialism could overcome the Austrian ideologies, and in which
he identified himself completely with the National Socialist goal.
We
offered Document 2246-PS, Exhibit USA-67, Von Papen's letter to Hitler
of September 1, 1936, which showed how Von Papen advised using both
economic and continuing psychological pressure; that he had conferences
with the leaders of the illegal Austrian Party; that he was trying to
direct the next developments in such a way as to get corporative
representation of the Nazi movement in the Fatherland Front, and that
meanwhile he was not ready to urge that avowed National Socialists be
put in prominent positions, but was quite satisfied with' collaborators
like Glaise-Horstenau.
I think that practically all of the
statements in Mr. Messersmith's affidavits have been fully supported by
these documents, German documents, which we have introduced. Certain
parts of the affidavits cannot be corroborated by documents, in the very
nature of things, and I refer specifically to Mr. Messersmith's
conversation with the Defendant Von Papen in 1934, which I read to the
Tribunal yesterday. But I think those matters are manifestly just as
true and just as clear of the defendant's guilt and complicity.
Yesterday
I was reading to the Tribunal selected excerpts from Mr. Messersmith's
second affidavit, 2385-PS, Exhibit USA-68, relating to the diplomatic
preparations for war. Prior to adjournment,
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