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participation and that of other defendants in the case. It was to be in
writing, in question and answer form, signed by the defendant. Then it
was to be submitted for your action and if approved, the defendant was to
take the stand as a witness . - not as "our witness" and be subjected to
such questioning as desired.
I agree that the case is fool proof and of itself needs no such
statement. But a confession from the last sane leader of the gang might
well be of value in a larger sense. This was not intended as a "stunt",
or as a dramatic episode, but as a very practical means of bringing home
to the German people the guilt of these men.
To accept or exclude this kind of testimony after reading it is
an exercise of judgment. To exclude it before doing so is something less.
6. About Leverkuehn. I told you and Amen all I knew about him. You
both thought he would be useful and he has been. If he has done anything
contrary to Amen's wishes then he is wrong. But I think the rest of your
comments might in fairness be deferred until you know the facts.
7. There is not and never has been so far as I am concerned - any
question between Amen and me on examination of defendants or witnesses.
That is just absurd. If one exists in your mind, you have been tilting
at windmills. Amen can do the job. The insinuation in your last three
sentences in this paragraph might be spared. Your mind may work that way -
mine does not.
8. It is true that I have frequently told you squarely and honestly
that
(1) the case needed centralized administrative control.
(2) that there was a lack of intellectual direction.
(3) that it was not handled as an entity.
(4) that because it was a lawsuit plus something else it needed
an affirmative human aspect with German as well as foreign witnesses.
I never knew that there was ever disagreement on these points.
As I told you several weeks ago I am leaving within a few days.
Time will not be concerned with our opinions right or wrong.
Sincerely,
/s/ BILL
UNITED LIBRARY AND HARRY
WILLIAM J. DONOVAN
TO: Mr. Justice Robert Jackson
S.
WJD/jes
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"ocrText": "- 2 -\nparticipation and that of other defendants in the case. It was to be in\nwriting, in question and answer form, signed by the defendant. Then it\nwas to be submitted for your action and if approved, the defendant was to\ntake the stand as a witness . - not as \"our witness\" and be subjected to\nsuch questioning as desired.\nI agree that the case is fool proof and of itself needs no such\nstatement. But a confession from the last sane leader of the gang might\nwell be of value in a larger sense. This was not intended as a \"stunt\",\nor as a dramatic episode, but as a very practical means of bringing home\nto the German people the guilt of these men.\nTo accept or exclude this kind of testimony after reading it is\nan exercise of judgment. To exclude it before doing so is something less.\n6. About Leverkuehn. I told you and Amen all I knew about him. You\nboth thought he would be useful and he has been. If he has done anything\ncontrary to Amen's wishes then he is wrong. But I think the rest of your\ncomments might in fairness be deferred until you know the facts.\n7. There is not and never has been so far as I am concerned - any\nquestion between Amen and me on examination of defendants or witnesses.\nThat is just absurd. If one exists in your mind, you have been tilting\nat windmills. Amen can do the job. The insinuation in your last three\nsentences in this paragraph might be spared. Your mind may work that way -\nmine does not.\n8. It is true that I have frequently told you squarely and honestly\nthat\n(1) the case needed centralized administrative control.\n(2) that there was a lack of intellectual direction.\n(3) that it was not handled as an entity.\n(4) that because it was a lawsuit plus something else it needed\nan affirmative human aspect with German as well as foreign witnesses.\nI never knew that there was ever disagreement on these points.\nAs I told you several weeks ago I am leaving within a few days.\nTime will not be concerned with our opinions right or wrong.\nSincerely,\n/s/ BILL\nUNITED LIBRARY AND HARRY\nWILLIAM J. DONOVAN\nTO: Mr. Justice Robert Jackson\nS.\nWJD/jes"
}