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- 2 - 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"
}