DR. VON LÜDINGHAUSEN: Mr. President, may I add the following? I would like to say this in order to save time. This question of Czechoslovakia and of this poster, with which I am also familiar, will, of course, be dealt with, in connection with Von Neurath's case, and at that stage of the proceedings. I will then have the opportunity to bring the proof that this poster did not originate with the Defendant Von Neurath. This witness was not in Prague and can relate only things which he did not know of his own experience, but which Herr Von Neurath told him. Therefore, I believe that this question is not appropriate and is taking up time unnecessarily, for I would have to raise objections and describe the actual situation. We should not put questions to the witness which, though put in good faith, are positively incorrect, that is, questions which are based on inaccurately reported facts which actually occurred in a different manner. I shall prove that at the time when this poster was drafted and put up, Herr Von Neurath was not in Prague and was not informed of what was going on during his absence.
Therefore I believe that we should not deal with this question today, since, as I have said, the witness cannot know anything about it from his own observation.
THE PRESIDENT: It will be open to you to show that this poster was put up when Von Neurath was not at Prague, and that he gave no authority for it. That would clear him with reference to this poster; but what is being put to this witness is: Assuming - that this poster was put up by Von Neurath, is it right to describe him as a humane man? That is all the cross-examination means.
DR. VON LÜDINGHAUSEN: But, the witness knows nothing of this poster. He cannot answer the question correctly if he does not know the ramifications, if he does not know that this poster actually did not originate with Herr Von Neurath.
THE PRESIDENT: The witness was examined at great length by you to show he was a humane man and had a very good character.
Under such circumstances it is up to the Prosecution to put to the witness circumstances which would indicate that he was not of that humane character. That is all that is being done.
DR. VON LÜDINGHAUSEN: In that case the most this witness could say would be "I do not know," or '"if it is true, one cannot call it humane." Any one of us can say that. The witness does not need to say it.
THE PRESIDENT: The witness can say, "If this is correct it is inconsistent with what I knew of Von Neurath." DR. VON LÜDINGHAUSEN: He cannot and he will not say that either, for the simple reason that he does not know the circumstances under which this poster was published. Frankly I cannot see that purpose of this question, for if the question is put in that way, every decent individual will say that it is inhumane; but this would not alter the fact that the witness would be judging facts which do not exist and which are not true.
THE PRESIDENT: Colonel Griffith-Jones, don't you think this 1s really taking up unnecessary time, if this witness doesn't know anything about it? I quite see that it is the proper purpose of cross-examination to discredit the witness.
LT. COL. GRIFFIH-JONES: I am much obliged to the Tribunal.
The point of that cross-examination was, perhaps I might be allowed to say, this: This defendant has produced a witness to give evidence on his oath before this Tribunal. If that evidence is unchallenged, then it goes down on the record, and there is nothing to stop this Tribunal from regarding this witness as a man who is in a position, to give reliable evidence of that kind. This cross-examination is - rather to show that this witness, whether he is saying it truthfully or untruthfully, is certainly inaccurate. The evidence he has given as to the good character of, this defendant does not bear investigation -that is quite clear-and the Tribunal is not saying we are not entitled to cross-examine as to character. However, I do not think I need occupy the time of the Tribunal with that.
THE PRESIDENT: Very well.
COL. AMEN: Witness, when were you last in New York City?
STRÖLIN: I was in New York in 1936.
COL. AMEN: At that time you made a speech at Madison Square Garden; is that correct?
STRÖLIN: Yes.
COL. AMEN: That was a rally in the Garden?
STRÖLIN: It was for "German Day," on 6 October 1936.
COL. AMEN: A "German Day" rally, correct?
STRÖLIN: It was the annual meeting of the Germans which took place on 6 October.
COL. MEN: And a great percentage of the German-American Bund, is that correct?
STRÖLIN: Yes.
COL. AMEN: In fact, that whole rally was held under the auspices of the German-American Bund, was it not?
STRÖLIN: The fact is, a festival committee had been commissioned by all German clubs-I believe there are all in all two thousand of them in New York-and these 2,000 German clubs had united in one festival committee which organized the "German Day." I did not know the composition of this committee in detail.
COL. AMEN: And it was at the solicitation of the GennanAmerican Bund that you made your speech, was it not?
STRÖLIN: No, it was at the solicitation of the festival committee of 'the German clubs of New York.
COL. AMEN: Yes, and on that committee were numerous members of the German-American Bund; is that true? "Yes" or "no."
STRÖLIN: Yes.
COL. AMEN: And aspa matter of fact, there were many of the members of your organization at that time who were active members of the German-American Bund; is that correct?
STRÖLIN: Yes.
COL. AMEN: And you personally had had several conferences with them, both here in Germany and in New York City, correct?
STRÖLIN: No, that is not correct.
COL. AMEN: Well, what is correct?
STRÖLIN: It is correct that I was invited, but there were no further conferences.
COL. AMEN: But you do not dispute that many of the members of your organization were at that time members of the German American Bund?
STRÖLIN: I am not informed on that point.
THE PRESIDENT [To the witness]:I have just taken down that you have said that was so.
COL. AMEN: Precisely.
STRÖLIN: Please repeat the question.
COL. AMEN: Did you not just tell me a few moments ago, in response to a previous question, that many members of your organization were members of the German-American Bund at the time of your speech at the rally in Madison Square Garden?
STRÖLIN: When you speak of an "organization," do you mean members of the German Auslands-Institut?
COL. AMEN: "Your organization" is the way I put it.
STRÖLIN: I had no organization; I had an institute.
COL. AMEN: Exactly. And under whose auspices were you making this speech in Madison Square Garden?
STRÖLIN: I was asked to make this speech because I had shortly before been appointed Lord Mayor of the City of Germans Abroad.
I was Lord Mayor of that city, and therefore I was asked to deliver the address. Stuttgart was made the City of Germans Abroad, since the Swabians furnished most of the emigrants, and for that reason Stuttgart was to be the home city of foreign Germans.
COL. AMEN: Well, is it not a fact that many members of the Aslands-Organisation were at that time also members of the German-American Bund? "Yes" or "no."
STRÖLIN: Yes. COL. AMEN: Is it not also a fact that at that time many members d the Institute were also members of the GermanAmerican Bund? Yes or no.
STRÖLIN: Yes, some of these Germans had come from America; they were students who had studied in America