SCHACHT OPPOSED NAZISM

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24867, 6 May 1946, Page 5

SCHACHT OPPOSED NAZISM

CLAIM BEFORE WAR CRIMES TRIBUNAL (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

NUREMBERG, May 3. “I would have killed Hitler myself if I had had the opportunity,” said Dr. Schacht, former president of the Reichsbank, before the War Crimes Tribunal, when commenting on plots against Hitler’s life in which he was implicated. Schacht left the witness box to-day after 24 hours of evidence and cross-examination.

Schacht denied that he and Goering were rivals for the economic dictatorship of Germany. He protested: “I got on well with Goering until the clash came over his wish to control economic policy without accepting responsibility.*’ • Goering watched Schacht critically. There was laughter when Schacht answered a question by Mr Justice Jackson, the chief United States prosecutor, on what had been his salary as Minister without portfolio by saying: ‘.‘l don’t exactly know. I think it was 24,000 marks. I am not as correct in my own money matters as I am in official money questions.” Mr Justice Jackson asked: “Did your salary continue to the end of the regime?” Schacht replied: “I hope it is still continuing. Otherwise I do not know how I am going to meet my expenses here.”

“I do not think that your expenses will be very high,’’ said Mr Justice Jacksdn.

Schacht declared that he never believed at any time that Germany could win the war. He remained in Germany only to oppose Nazism, accepting the danger that he might some day be judged for doing so, as was happening now. Goering put his thumb to his nose when he heard read at the war crimes trial the description which Schacht had written of him—“a criminal whose knowledge in every field is zero.” Schacht, under cross-examination by Mr Justice Jackson, the chief United States prosecutor, admitted giving the description. He also conceded that he had called Goering “a fool in economic matters.” {i> , , . JAPANESE SENTENCED (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 5. Sub-Lieutenant Uemura, of the Japanese Navy, is the first Japanese war criminal to be shot at Rabaul. Five others have b een hanged. Uemura was sentenced to death for the murder of four members of the R.A.A.F. An Eighth United States Army tribunal has sentenced Lieutenant Ikegami, former commander of the Sasebo prison camp, to be hanged for atrocities against American prisoners of war.