DR. LATERNSER: Your Honor, may I look at the original?
(Dr. Laternser examining document) Thank you very much.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: If your Honors, will turn now to page 10 of this particular document, that page marked J 129, it should be marked as Exhibit 552/5. This document is addressed to the Bailiff of the village of Totchionik:
"In order to activate the Peoples Liberation Committee there will be a meeting tomorrow in the village of Totchionik. Your task is to gather all farmers near some of tho buildings. Our comrades will come and activate a Peoples Liberation Committee. The farmers have to be on the spot at 12 o'clock."
It is dated, "Battlefield 1 April 1942" and is signed "Commander R. Rovatchevitch."
The certificate is to the effect that "this is a true and correct cony of the original document issued by the Hqs of the 1 Battalion the II Proletarian Shock Brigade."
I call your Honors attention to the date of the document 1 April 1942.
Turning to the next page, page 11, Document Y 117, it should be marked Exhibit 552/6. This is General Order No. 8, issued by the Commandant of Croatian Partisan People Detachments of Liberation on the 20 May 1942:
"I In compliance with the general order of the Supreme Hqs. of the Yugoslav Partisan People and Volunteer Army of Liberation, commanders have to wear the following insignia:
Section Leader: One red five-cornered star on the left sleeve above elbow.
Platoon Leader: Two red five-cornered star on the left sleeve above elbow.
Company Commander: One red five-cornered star and one stripe below it.
(6 cm. long and 1½ cm. width.)
Battalion Commander: One red five-cornered star and two stripes below it. (6 cm. long and 1½ width.)
Detachment Commander: One red five-cornered star and three stripes below it. (6 cm. long and 1½ width) Commander of Group of Detachments:
and brigade commander as well as members of Highest Hqa, have to wear on left sleeve above elbow a stripe like Roman V turned down. Between points of V is a red five-cornered star.
Political Commissars: wear the same, above-mentioned insignias, and in addition, sickle and hammer on the red star.
This Hqs will prescribe special insignia for deputy commanders, deputy political commissars and chiefs of staff of small detachments.
II Group's and Detachment's Commanders will issue necessary orders to all subordinated units to provide their men as soon as possible with aforementioned insignia wearing of which is obligatory."
"This order has to be made public in front of formation.
Death to fascism -- Liberty to the People (Signed): Commander Ivo Vladitch.
Political Commissar Vlado Katitch."
The certificate states that, "this is a true and correct copy of the original document issued by this Higher Hqs of the Croatian Partisan People Detachments of Liberation."
I call your Honors attention to the date of this document, 20 May 1942.
Turning next to page 13, Document J/127, it should be marked Exhibit 552/7. This is an order from, the Headquarters of the Third Zone of Operations of the People Partisan Detachments:
"2 December 1942 To the:
Hqs of the 1 Slavonian Shock Brigade of the N.O.P. Hqs of the I and II Detachments of the III Zone of Operation.
Our Circular No. 767 of 28 November 1942, and circular entitled "To all Political Commissars" dated 19 November 1942, - subject of wearing of national insignia - tri-colored stripes on partisans caps, - is amended as follows:
The tri-colored stripe is to be worn in form of letter V turned down, according to instruction given in circular, and not in the way as it was explained in our letter of the same No. that it is to be worn below the five-cornered star.
It is emphasized again that wearing of this tripe is not obligatory. It is requested to put the afore-mentioned amendment into practice. Death to Fascism - Liberty to the People."
Turning next to page 15, document labelled Y/128, this should be marked Exhibit 552/8, and introducing this deposition of a witness taken in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, the prosecution is mindful of the fact that should there be an application by the defense, the witness should be produced for cross examination purposes.
"Deposition of witness "Comrade Vlade Zetchevitch, Minister of Public Buildings of the F.N.R.Y. on subject of collecting evidence against former German Genarals and Commanders in the South Eastern Territories Field Marshals List, von Weichs and others, now on trial in Nuremburg.
Deposition made on the 5 June 1947.
Mr. Milan Markovitch, representative of the Head of Legal Department of the Yugoslav State Commission is present at the interrogation.
Questioned with respect to the subject of this interrogation -- i.e. treatment of German PWs captured during the war by partisan detachments and units of Yugoslav National Army of Liberation - witness made the following deposition:
"I remember that in battles in the Podzinsky area, conducted for the liberation of the cities of Loznica, Matchva, Etolica (miners settlement 4 miles from Krupanj), Krupnja and other localities, our detachments have captured a great number of German soldiers.
This happened in September or October of 1941. Even at that time our detachments were formed according to rules which applied to a regular army. The organization was carried out according to the regulations of the Hague Convention and units had commanders appointed, soldiers wore prescribed insignia and bore arms quite openly. The regulations of the Hague Convention were applied with respect to PWs and our men treated German PWs strictly according to the rules of International Law and Conventions concerning treatment of PWs. In spite of the fact that the German Commanders and German Army did not adhere to the Hague Convention and the regulations of International Law with respect to land warfare, and were killing innocent population, bombing open cities, murdering our PWs -- we have always treated German PWs in a human way, strictly according to the Hague Convention. The German PWs were always sent to the rear zone and collected in Uzice. A number of German PWs was kept that time in a temporary camp in the apartment building of the monastery of Petkovitza in Jadar County -- and was about to be transported further to the rear zone. The German fliers, not caring for the Hague Convention, bombed this monastery and killed on this occasion most of the PWs (about 60 German PWs and some of our military guards.)
I remember also, that there was a number of German PWs in a camp in Krupanj. German PWs, knowing well that their fliers were to bomb open cities and PW camps, put on the meadow of the camp, a warning appeal to their fliers written in large white letters: "Do not fire. We are German PWs."
At the end of 1941, when the Yugoslav territory liberated this year, had to be evacuated by our Army, -- the partisan detachments could not evacuated German PWs from Uzice. Appropriate measures were taken and these PWs were left in a school building at Zlatibora near Uzice. Later they were liberated by the German units.
With regard to the general treatment applied to German PWs, I have to say that it was very humane -- for instance they were getting the same food as partisans.
I do not know whether there were in 1941 some cases of exchange of German PWs for our prisoners, but this does not mean that such a practice was not applied at some later date. There are even some documents testifying that such procedure was applied during the later period of the National fight for Liberation.
I have nothing more to tell on the subject."
Read, checked and approved.
Signed Vlada Zetchevitch.
Certified: Head of the Legal Department Legal Adviser Urosh Bjelitch M.D. Markovitch."
DR. LATERNSER: Your Honor, I move to have this witness called for cross examination.
DR. FENSTERMACHER: I think, if your Honors please, there was a ruling from the Tribunal yesterday, that such an application had to be in writing, and could not be made orally on the record.
DR. LATERNSER: Your Honor, I made this motion right now, and I shall be glad to do it in writing also.
PRESIDING JUSTICE BURKE: I think that would be the desirable thing for the record.
DR. FENSTERMACHER: That, if your Honors, please, completes Exhibit 552.
PRESIDENT WENNERSTRUM: Mr. Fenstermacher, in what book is this to be attached?
MR. FENSTERMACHER: If your Honors please, I think it can just be kept separate, after Book 24.
The next document, which is NOKW-1639, consists of several parts, all of which have been sent to us by the Yugoslav National Commission for the Investigation of War Crimes. It is offered as Prosecution's Exhibit 553 and should be paginated 1 and following. The first portion of the document is an interrogation consisting of five pages and should be marked 125, and also marked Exhibit 553/1.
We are offering this interrogation, which is in the German language. We are mindful of the fact that, should defense counsel request, we will have to produce the witness for cross examination.
DR. LATERNSER: Your Honor, I object to the introduction of this document. This is not an affidavit or testimony. Instead it is a responsible interrogation, I assume, of a defendant. Therefore this is not evidence of a witness. It cannot be used.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: If Your Honors please, I do not share Dr. Laternser's assumption that this is an interrogation of a defendant. This is simply an interrogation of a German soldier, if Your Honors please; it is in the proper form, certified, and has the stamp of the Yugoslav National War Crimes Commission.
DR. LATERNSER: Your Honor, I believe that this whole document has several faults. For instance, the interrogation could not have been carried out in German for in this interrogation there is one sentence which really does not make sense.
PRESIDING JUDGE BURKE: You are referring now to an error in translation, Dr. Laternser?
DR. LATERNSER: In case that this document should be admitted, in that case I shall then point out these errors when the prosecution reaches these pages in the document. In any case, Your Honor, I object against the introduction of this document because it is not a statement of a witness.
It can be seen from the document itself that it is the interrogation of a defendant, of an accused person, for it states "from protective custody", that such and such a person was presented, and then the name follows.
PRESIDING JUDGE BURKE: For the reasons given by the Presiding Judge at yesterday's session, the document will be received with the definite limitations indicated by his views on the subject at that time. You may proceed.
MR. FENSTERMACHER:
"Interrogation.
"Made on 12 March 1947 on behalf of the city of Belgrade in a court martial procedure by members of the National Commission for the Investigation of Crimes committed by the occupation forces and their accomplices, Belgrade.
"Present:
"Sambaher Vladislav, Referent of the National Commission as interpreter.
"Mihailovic Leposava, stenographer and interpreter.
"Josef Selmayr, former German Army colonel and Chief (IA) of the Operations Branch of Army Group F was brought in from the detention prison. He answered the questions put to him as follows:
"My name is Josef Selmayr. I was born on 7 July 1905 in Straubing/ Danube (Southern Bavaria). I am married and have three children. My family residence is in Wiesbaden, Idsteinerstrasse 16. My religion is Catholic. I was a colonel in the German Army.
"I came to Yugoslavia from the Russian Theater of Operations. In August 1943, I reported to General Alezander Loehr in Saloniki. He informed me of the impending organization of Army Group F which was to include territorially the Southeast Area of that period. According to plan, Field Marshal Rommel originally was to become Commander-in-Chief Southeast. However, it was decided later on that Field Marshal Freiherr Maximilian von Weichs was to take over High Command Southeast. Thus, Army Group F was organized 26 August 1943. It was composed of the following elements:
"1) Army Group E, which included the troops in area Greece, under the command of General Alexander Loehr.
"2) The Second Panzer Army which until June (?) 1944 was commanded by General Lothar Rendulic. He was relieved by General Boehme at the beginning of June 1944 who in turn was relieved by General Maximilian de Angelis in the second half of the month of July 1944. This Panzer Army included the following corps: the V SS Mountain Corps, XV Mountain Corps, XXI Mountain Corps, and the LXIX Corps. The territorial authority of the Second Panzer Army extended to Albania, Montenegro, and NDH (including the territories coming under its authority after the surrender of Italy). Area Serbia did not come within the competency of the Second Panzer Army except as far as the provisioning of the units of the Army and the securing of these supplies from the railroad unloading points to the Army limits was concerned.
"3) The command authority over those troops which were stationed in Serbia, which was headed by Commander Serbia. Subordinated to him were: the Bulgarian Occupation Corps, the Russian Defense Corps, and the indigenous armed units. Commander Serbia was subordinated to Army Group F only tactically. This organization of Commander-in-Chief Southeast was based on the situation at that time, i.e., light defense of the expected landing of the Anglo Americans on the Balkan and the withdrawal of Italy from the war which was being counted on. The duty of Army Group F was: defense of the Adriatic and Aegean coast in the event of an enemy landing and the protection of signal communications within this area, in connection with the fight against the People's Liberation Army(NOVJ) and against other insurgent groups in the Balkans.
"The Chief of Staff of Army Group F up to 25 April 1944 was General Foertsch. He was succeeded by General Winter. I was Chief of the Operation Branch of the Staff (Ia). Colonel Zorn was Oberquartiermeister (Qu). The subordinate command authorities had the same staff organization as that of Army Group F, however, on a smaller scale.
"During the period of my activity in Yugoslavia, three sizable operations against the Yugoslavian People's Liberation Army took place. The first of these operations was executed in fall 1943 with the cover name 'Kugelblitz'. Since the majority of the enemy was not annihilated in this operation, an additional operation was undertaken toward the end of May 1944 with the cover name 'Roesselsprung'. Its mission was to destroy the headquarters of the People's Liberation Army (NOVJ). The third operation took place in July/August 1944 from the Ibar Valley under the cover name 'Ruebezahl'. These three operations were executed pursuant to the suggestion and order of Army Group F, naturally in agreement with the OKW because the OKW had to approve all plans for the execution of large scale operations.
During the last years, it was a regulation in the German Army that the OKW had to approve any operation of this kind before its execution, notwithstanding the adverse effect of this procedure if the situation required rapid action. However, if it was a question of a operation, the execution of which required troops not over one division strong, the OKW generally did not have to be notified in advance, but afterwards via Commander-in-Chief Southeast.
"For operations, the execution of which required troops up to one regiment strong, the approval of Army Group F generally was not needed in advance. Of course, in both cases High Command Southeast had to be informed subsequently. The plan for the 'Roesselsprung' Operation was drafted by the staff of the Second Panzer Army. General Lothar Rendulic submitted this plan to Field Marshal von Weichs who on his part transmitted the plan to OKW. After approval by the OKW von Weichs issued the order for the start of the operation. General Lothar Rendulic was responsible for its execution. Von Weichs was 100 percent informed regarding the course of this and of the other two operations in as far as it was of an operational significance, since reports from the field arrived every 24 hours. The command of Operation 'Kugelblitz' was transferred by General Rendulic to the Commanding Officer of the V SS Mountain Corps, General Arthur Phleps."
DR. LATERNSER: Your Honor, this sentence which has just been read, and which reads, "...regarding the course of the action..., since reports from the field came in every 24 hours" -- this is a sentence which in German does not make sense.
I can definitely assume that the witness Selmayr had never uttered this sentence as it reads here. I assert that this testimony is wrong.
PRESIDING JUDGE BURKE: It is your contention the testimony is wrong because of your conclusion or because of an error in translation?
DR. LATERNSER: Your Honor, I am not asserting that the witness has made a wrong testimony. That would be an objection against the probative value which I cannot make at this point. I am merely saying that the interrogation -- the witness cannot have said that. That is, that the record must have been taken down mistakenly.
PRESIDING JUDGE BURKE: Is it a matter, Dr. Laternser, that you would care to have submitted to a competent interpreter?
DR. LATERNSER: Your Honor, may I have a look at the original for a moment?
PRESIDING JUDGE BURKE: Surely.
DR. LATERNSER: Your Honor, I can just see here that the signature Selmayr is written under this interrogation. Therefore he has only signed it in the way as it is in this document here.
PRESIDING JUDGE BURKE: Will you repeat that, please.
INTERPRETER: I just notice here that Selmayr's signature is under this interrogation. Therefore he has signed the document as we see it here.
DR. LATERNSER: Your Honor, I cannot explain this at all, and will have to hear about it when he is here for cross examination.
PRESIDING JUDGE BURKE: Very well.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: Continuing with the fifth line at the bottom of page 3:
"Pursuant to a basic Hitler Order of the year 1941, the partisans fighting behind the German lines were not to be called this 'honorable name'. They were to be designated as bands and to be treated as such. This was valid for all theaters of operation and until the end of the war, "De jure, this also applied to the People's Liberation Army since for political reasons Hitler refused to recognize it as a belligerent power.
"De facto, there was no doubt within the Staff of Army Group E from the first day on of my activity in the Southeast that the People's Liberation Army, as a whole, now fulfilled all the requirements of international law. Hence, all orders of the Commander-in-Chief Southeast provided for the same methods of warfare as in any other theater of operation against regular enemy forces. I know that the problem of reprisal measures against the civilian population was discussed during the conferences participated in by Field Marshal von Weichs, Hermann Neubacher, and Commander Serbia Felber. Accordingly, as also on the basis of the orders issued by the troop commanders, as, for instance, by General Fritz Neidhold, General Josef Brauner, and others, I believe that these reprisal measures in the field were carried out by the troops. The issuance of such orders by the individual commanders and the carrying out of such orders in fact, as far as they surpassed collective punishment as permissible and customary in international law, is contrary to the principles of humanity. However, it is a fact that this corresponded to the generally know ruthlessness of Hitler who recognized in that sort of commander, people of his own way of thinking, people who were always willing to transform his intentions into fact. The above mentioned orders were not passed on via me because, according to my office, I carried on work of an operational character exclusively. As far as they were handled at all in the staff of High Command of Army Group F, they pertained by their nature to the duties of the Quartiermeister. I personally, even if I had received such an order, would never have carried it out or transmitted it.
"Further, I am aware that there was talk of cessation of reprisal measures against the civilian population during the above mentioned conferences. However, its result was only a certain mitigation of these reprisal measures as, for instance, that 50 civilians were permitted to be shot for one German soldier instead of 100 as before.
"I was Chief of the Operation Branch of the Staff of Army Group F until March 1944.
"The above has been read to me and I state that all of it corresponds to my statement which I made voluntarily and without compulsion.
"Certified:
"Interrogator:
"Signed: Sambaher Vladislav "Stenographer:
Mihailovic Leposava "Signed:
Josef Selmayr
PRESIDING JUDGE BURKE: Mr. Fenstermacher, at this time the Court will stand in recess until 11:05.
(A recess was taken.)
THE MARSHAL: The persons in the Courtroom will be seated.
The Tribunal is again in session.
PRESIDING JUDGE BURKE: You may proceed, Mr. Fenstermacher.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: Your Honor, prior to the recess, we were looking at Exhibit 553 and we had completed the first part of that 553/1. If your Honors will now turn to page 6, Document NOKW-1639, and mark this 553/2, this and the next part of the Exhibit reflect the relationship between the German troops and the Croatian Wehrmacht in the Southeast area. This first document is an order from the Headquarters of the 6th Infantry Regiment, dated Brcko, 5 February 1943;
"To Headquarters, I, II, III, IV, V. Battalion of the 6th Infantry Regiment and of the 13, 14, 15, 25 and 27 Company of the 6th Infantry Regiment."
These are Croatian units.
The Subject is:
"Proclamation of General Fortner to the Croatian Officers in the Operations Area of the 718th German Infantry Division.
The Headquarters of the 3rd Infantry Division under No. 693/Secret of 31 January 1943 has transmitted the following:
The Headquarters of the IInd Home Guard Corps under No. 1075/ Secret of 28 January 1943 has transmitted the following:
Enclosed, please find the Proclamation of General Fortner to the Croatian Officers in the Operations Area of the 718th German Infantry Division.
Please transmit this proclamation to all subordinate units so that there is no Croatian Officer who has not read this proclamation. The above is transmitted in order that the previously mentioned order will be carried out exactly in all details.
Signed; Executive Officer, 1st Lieutenant Radej" Then turning to the next page is the enclosure, which was forwarded to the Croatian subordinate units.
This is the order, the proclamation of General Fortner, dated 718 Infantry Division, Headquarters, 21 January 1943.
"Commanding Officer Headquarters, 21 January 1943 To all Croatian Officers of my Area of Command Gentlemen:
With this letter, I am addressing you directly because I feel that many of you are not conscious of the great significance of our common struggle and of the great danger in which your homeland finds itself.
What is at stake?
Briefly, the existence or non-existence of Croatia, the happiness or misery of your Nation, of your families, you cities and villages. Will Croatia remain an independent, free and proud state or will it decline to a Communist Bolshevic province, administered by Jews and dominated by a still greater poverty than the one which already has been caused by the senseless murders, the looting and the pillaging by Bolshevist criminal hands of Tito, the Stalin Mercenary?
I believe the choice is not hard between a "Free Independent Proud Croatia in a New Europe" and "devastated Bolshevic Province in the service of Stalin". You gentlemen carry the main weight of responsibility You are the exponents in this struggle and it will be your heroism, your attitude and your appreciation of the situation which will serve as to yardstick by which history will measure the value of the Croatian nation.
What is to be done?
Comrades of the Croatian Officer Corps.
During the first World War, the Croatian and Bosnian Regiments were among the very best. Why should it be different today. Your homeguard and Ustasha is composed of hard, courageous, tenacious and modest and to a great part single people, which means that they want to be led by someone.
They look to their leaders with unlimited confidence. No wonder they fail in battle when their leader is the first one to withdraw. Wherever the officers were resilient and tenacious, the soldiers fought in an examplary manner. I will mention only TESLIC where units of the 8th Infantry Regiments together with the Jaeger Battalion of the German Volksgruppe under the Command of MIFEKA, the Commander of the 8th Infantry Regiment who was killed in battle from 8 to 19 January 1943 successfully repelled with insignificant losses to themselves and great to the enemy the exceedingly strong attacks of Communist Bands which outnumbered them.
3) In my area of Command, battle will be avoided or withdrawal executed by my personal order. Not otherwise! During the movements which up to now have been executed with the purpose of avoiding battle and during withdrawals dictated by ordinary panic and cowardice, the troops have suffered great losses of men, arms and supplies.
In the future, any commanding officer who without my written order avoids battle, or orders or tolerates withdrawal will be held fully responsible by me and will face a court martial. According to German Law, cowardice in the face of the enemy is punishable by death.
4) Great losses can only be avoided by heroism and activity. The defense too must be active. Steady, well-distributed action, which has momentum and which comes from the defense position, must cause the enemy to incur losses and destroy his preparations for attack.
5) The heroic deeds of Croatian Officers and men performed to date, have, up until now, not been sufficiently recognized and rewarded. In this respect, too, I want help. The opinion that a subordinate cannot receive a decoration which his superior has not earned as yet, is entirely mistaken.
All of you are asked to co-operate and to make suggestions so that the deeds of courageous soldiers may be properly rewarded possibly also with German decorations.
Comrades -- Croatian Officers.
Take these lines to heart and with our old tried Comradeship-inarms we shall repel and annihilate the Communist enemy wherever we meet him.
Ready for the Poglavnik and the Homeland.
H e i l H i t l e r.
Sgd. F O R T N E R Major General and Division Commander" Then at the bottom of the document appears the staff:
INDEPENDENT STATE OF CROATIA STAFF Turning next to page 11 for the final part of this exhibit, it should be marked 553/3. This is another order from the headquarters of the 6th Infantry Regiment to various subordinate Croatian units.
"Subject: Transmission in translation of the order of the 718th German Division."
The last paragraph states: "Enclosed, please find the above mentioned translation. Commanders concerned will disseminate this order among all offices and the entire Home Guard personnel concerned."
Turning to the next page is a copy of the translation which was forwarded. This is at the bottom of page 12 of the English Document Look:
C O P Y T R A N S L A T I O N S E C R E T 718 Infantry Division Branch Ia The Commander of German Troops in Croatia issued the following directives are applicable:
1) Any measure is justified which is necessary for the security of the troops and which simultaneously serves to pacify the country."
"2) Extensive and responsible cooperation by Croatian Military and Civilian Offices is desired.
"3) No one is to be called to account for over-severe measures, of course this does not cover any action showing a dishonorable attitude (for instance personal profit, mistreatment of women and children); against such cases severe measures will have to be taken.
"4) Treatment of the Population:
Anybody who participates or has participated in the fight against the defense groups or against the Croatian State is to be hanged or to be shot to death. This also includes all non-residents or anyone else encountered on the field of battle. People suspected of participation are to be arrested. Leaders are to be kept with the Division as exchange prisoners, the other suspects for shooting to death in case of reprisal measures. All other men capable of bearing arms (from 15 years of age) are to be deported under guard from territories where there is danger that they will desert to the partisans into special collection camps. The Division is responsible for guard, rations, etc. until they are transferred to the collection camp.
"5) Villages which are inaccessible as well as other points established as partisan support points or otherwise suitable (caves, barrack camps, etc.) are to be destroyed. The same applies to villages from which shots were fired. Beyond that, villages are to be destroyed only if the Division Commander has ordered this especially as a reprisal measure."
I think we may skip over the next part of the order and continue with the last paragraph which is on page 14 of the English:
"Implementation by Division:
"I am again pointing out that everybody who has acted energetically and decisively will be covered by me but that officers and men who have harmed or caused disadvantage to the Croatian State, to the German or Croatian Army by cowardice, inability of decision or inactivity will be called to account by me ruthlessly, will come before a court martial and without regard to rank, social standing or origin will be sentenced without mercy."
This order was signed by:
Fortner If your Honors will now turn to Book 24, there is one more document from that book which we would like to introduce.
This is Document NOKW 1664.
I beg your pardon, your Honors, If you will just hold that one minute, I have one other one first. The next document your Honors, we offer for judicial notice only and not as evidence. This consists of excerpts from an official publication of the U. S. Government entitled:
"UNITED STATES AND ITALY 1936-1946 Documentary Record Published by UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE Washington, 1946."
I think, for purposes of identification, however, we might mark it Exhibit 554.
PRESIDING JUDGE BURKE: You are not anticipating reading it, I take.
MR. FENSTERMACHER: No, I just want to go through it very briefly, your Honors, and point out just a very few things. I shan't spend very much time on it at all.
On the second page, page 1-A, your Honors will note there a communication:
"Churches and Religious Institutions Spared Devastations of War:
"President Roosevelt to Pope Pius XII, July 10, 1943.
"Released to the press by the White House July 16.
"By the time this message reaches your Holiness a landing in force by American and British troops will have taken place on Italian soil."
And then the footnote: Next on page 2:
"Developments in Italy: Statement by Secretary of State Hull, July 26, 1943.