TO ENTER BRITISH ZONE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 304, 5 October 1946, Page 5

TO ENTER BRITISH ZONE

THREE ACQUITTED NAZIS SAFE CONDUCT PROVIDED (N.Z. Press Association— Copyright.) LONDON, October 3, The three Nazis acquitted of war crimes—Schacht, von Papen and Fritsche —are to enter the British -zone in Germany. Reuter’s Nuremberg correspondent says the deputy military governor of the United States zone, General Lucius Clay, agreed to provide safe conduct for the three men. They will enter the British zone under armed escort.

Defence counsel for the men announced that they would go to Hamburg by secret route to-night or tomorrow. The three were going to the British zone because they were arrested there. Schacht would later go to his home at Schleswig-Holstein. German police, who this morning surrounded the gaol at Nuremberg, were withdrawn this afternoon “on superior orders.” Meanwhile, the Austrian Minister of Justice, Dr. Josef Geroe, sent a telegram to the chief United States prosecutor at Nuremberg, Mr Justice Jackson, asking for the extradition of von Papen and Schacht.

A Berlin message says a majority of German political parties, both Right and Left, demand that the three acquitted may be delivered to German courts for trial.

The Social Democratic Party in the British zone sent a petition to the Allied Control Council for the establishment of an independent German court authorised to try to judge the political activities of persons and organisations through which Hitler gained and held power. Berlin trade unions organised a 10minute transport strike this afternoon as a protest against the leniency of the sentences, especially against the acquittals. The strike was orderly and there was no intervention by the military government.

Officials Confused *

The acquittal of the three Nazi leaders has led to utter confusion among Nuremberg administrative officials, says the Nuremberg correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph.” Schacht, von Papen and Fritsche, since their release, have been repeatedly moved back and forth from the cells to the interviewing room and back again. The released men sometimes are bare-heqded and on other occasions dressed for travel. Schacht trotted up and down stairs with his ready-packed luggage.

The released men’s counsel told reporters: “They are leaving shortly.” Then half an hour later: “We don’t know when they will leave.” The correspondent adds [that he finally learned that the released men, at the instance of General Clay, signed papers in which they voluntarily agreed to stay in protective custody until their exact legal position could be more clearly defined. Reuter’s Nuremberg correspondent reveals that Lord Justice Lawrence and Sir Norman Birkett, during the last two days of the trial, drove to the court in a bullet-proof, bomb-resist-ing car built in 1940 for his Majesty and Mr Churchill.

“I am resigned. It doesn’t matter whether they hang or shoot me,” said Goering to his counsel to-day. Keitel and Jodi, however, declared: “We want to die as soldiers.” Rosenberg and Sauclcel signed appeals for mercy, which have not yet been delivered to the Allied Control Council. Frank,, Kaltenbrunner and von Schirach told counsel that they were not appealing. Von Schirach said: “Twenty years is a just sentence for the crimes I committed.” The cable which Frau. Jodi sent to General Eisenhower requesting him to intercede on behalf of her husband was returned marked: “Addressee travelled away without any new address.”

• At the press conference in Washington to-day President Truman described the Nuremberg verdicts as a good thing for the world.

Questioned about the acquittals, he declared that he thought the trials were fair.

The Colombian Senate decided to appeal to the Allied Control Council for clemency for the 11 Nazi leaders sentenced to death. The resolution declared: “The commutation of the death sentences would gain the admiration of posterity as a sublime act of generosity.” ,

“Saddening Spectacle” A saddening spectacle is how the Berlin correspondent of “The Times” describes the agitation now being fomented for the retrial before a German court of the three accused acquitted at Nuremberg,

The correspondent adds it proves where, unfortunately, no proof is needed how far the Germans, even those speaking. in the name of democracy, are from understanding the processes of democracy. The moral of Nuremberg as a demonstration of the victors putting justice before revenge has been completely lost on them. < . Schacht’s acquittal makes it more improbable than ever that a second international trial of bankers and industrialists -will be held. The United States emphatically refused to enter such a trial. It . appears, therefore, that the cases now being prepared, if indeed they are maintained in face of Schacht’s acquittal, will be prosecuted on a zonal basis. ACQUITTED NAZIS STILL GUESTS OF AMERICANS (Rec. 9.30) NUREMBERG, Oct. 4. | . Schacht, Fritsche and von Papen this morning were still guests of the Americans at the Palace of Justice. Colonel B. C. Andrus, commander of i the prison, is anxious to get rid of the star boarders, who are awaiting transport. Colonel Andrus stated that the condemned men, who are not allowed t.o see each other, are at present spending their time writing appeals for! mercy. i

Defence counsel for Frick and Ros-

enberg have filed appeals for clemency The appeals are being forwarded to the Allied Control Council. CLEMENCY FOR CONDEMNED NO APPEAL FROM VATICAN (Rec. 9.30) VATICAN CITY, Oct. 4. The Vatican spokesman stated that the Pope was not intervening for clemency on 'behalf of the condemned Nazi leaders. He added it was possible to maintain some reservations regarding the legality of the Tribunal, but there could be no reserve over the guilt of those sentenced, who fully merited punishment.