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conviction,” in the second paragraph of the letter, are a form
of politeness, because actually this is a letter of apology.
MR.
SPRECHER: Dr. ter Meer was speaking rather rapidly and I didn't hear part of
the translation come through. May I ask him to repeat that last bit?
PRESIDING JUDGE SHAKE: Can you repeat your answer, Dr. ter Meer.
A. The whole answer?
PRESIDING JUDGE SHAKE: Very well.
A. Before, I was only able to read the excerpt from the letter, and I
could only guess that we are here concerned with friction between the Wiesbaden
Armistice Delegation and the Economic Military Administration in Paris. After,
however, having read the letter in its entirety, I can see that this refers to
a very clear misunderstanding, even a type of reprimand which apparently was
made to the author of the letter, to the effect that certain conferences were
conducted in Paris whereas Minister Hemmen would have preferred them to be
conducted in Wiesbaden. For that reason, this letter clearly bears the
character of an apology on the basis of the third and fourth paragraphs, or at
least is an apologetic explanation. This supports the view which I have already
voiced on the basis of the excerpt, that the words “sincere
conviction” are merely a polite form and since this is a letter of
apology, this formula was particularly emphasized.
Q. Dr. ter Meer, the
part of the letter which was not mimeographed by the prosecution — does it
show upon whose instigation the conference with the Paris government officials
took place which Hemmen obviously objected to.
A. Yes. It is stated
under paragraph 3 that Mr. Duchemin expressed the wish that the Farben
gentlemen would get together with him, his colleagues, and the French
Government representatives. Whereupon the author of the letter stated that he
could only agree to that course if the representatives of his own government
were also present. It seems that Mr. Duchemin then approached the French
Ministers who, in turn, visited the economic offices of the German Military
Government in Paris; and then, upon French request, as it stated here, there
was a concluding conference in Paris in the presence of representatives of both
governments.
Q. One last question. Did Minister Hemmen participate in
one of the later conferences in Paris? I am referring to conferences which you,
too, attended.
A. I did not participate in a single Paris conference.
DR. SIEMERS: Thank you very much. No further questions.
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