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15 Nov.
45
offered to the Court, and also, they will have the
opportunity to examine copies of those documents in their own language.
May I also suggest that most Defense Counsel have availed
themselves of that privilege and those who had not, have been notified
and they are now, as of this date, all of them, making use of the
facilities provided, which include rooms for conferences, typewriters,
when necessary, and other assistance.
I want to make that
statement for the information of the Defense Counsel.
THE
PRESIDENT: I understand the Soviet Chief Prosecutor wishes to address
the Tribunal.
COL. POKROVSKY: In connection with the evidence
just submitted to the Tribunal by Counsel representing the interests of
Defendant Streicher, I consider it my duty to inform the Tribunal that
during the last interrogation made by the Delegation of the Soviet
Union, the Defendant Streicher, about whom it is specifically said in
the Indictment, Counts One and Four, that he had incited to the
persecution of the Jews, stated that he had been speaking from a Zionist
point of view.
This declaration or, more precisely, this
testimony, immediately produced certain doubts as to the mental
stability of the defendant. It is not the first time that persons, now
standing their trial, have attempted to delude us about their mental
condition. I refer in particular to the Defendant Hess. In the case of
Hess the Tribunal, to my knowledge already possesses . . .
THE
PRESIDENT: One moment. We are not hearing any application with reference
to Streicher's sanity now, nor any application with reference to Hess.
We have simply informed Counsel for Streicher that if he wishes to make
an application in respect of his defendant's sanity or mental condition,
he must make that application in writing. If he does make such an
application in writing you will have full opportunity of opposing the
application.
COL. POKROVSKY: What I have in mind is not to
offer an opinion on the deductions and the petition of the Defense, but
to inform the Tribunal of a fact which may cause much complication if we
do not act on it immediately. Seeing that the Tribunal has at its
disposal a number of competent medical personnel, it would appear to me
most expedient that the Tribunal should entrust these specialists with
the examination of the Defendant Streicher in order to establish
definitely whether he is or is not in full possession of his mental
capacities.
If we do not do so now, the necessity may arise in
the course of the Trial and if the question of Streicher's sanity arises
after the beginning of the Trial, then it may delay the pro-
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