DR. SIEMERS: Were there no continuous naval-military discussions and conferences between Japan and Germany?
WAGNER: No, before Japan’s entry into the war there were no military discussions according to my conviction.
DR. SIEMERS: I should now like to show you Document C-41, Mr. President, this is Exhibit GB-69. Later on, the British Delegation will submit it in Document Book 10a for Raeder. I do not know whether the Tribunal already has it. It is as yet not contained in the trial brief against Raeder. In the newly compiled: Document Book 10a, it is on Page 18.
THE PRESIDENT: You can offer it in evidence now, if you want to, so you can put it to the witness.
DR. SIEMERS: The Prosecution has submitted it; yes.
THE PRESIDENT: Very well.
DR. SIEMERS: This concerns a document signed by Admiral Fricke, and it is dated 3 June 1940. It is headed “Questions of Expansion of Areas and Bases.” That document contains detailed statements on future plans.
[Turning to the witness.] I should like to ask you if Raeder gave the order to prepare this memorandum or how did this memorandum come to be written?
WAGNER: Admiral Raeder did not give the order to draft this memorandum. This constitutes the personal, theoretical ideas of Admiral Fricke regarding the possible developments in the future. They are quite fantastic, and they had no practical significance.
DR. SIEMERS: Was this study or this note talked about or discussed in any large group in the Naval Operations Staff?