“These words do not correspond to the telegram. They do not in any way correspond to our actions in the years of 1939, 1940, 1941 and 1942, as I have plainly shown you through the Laconia incident. I would like to emphasize once more that both Captain Godt and Captain Hessler were violently opposed to the dispatch of this telegram.”
Do you still say that you don’t remember protesting against the sending of that telegram?
GODT: I have stated repeatedly that I do not remember it.
COL. PHILLIMORE: I will show you one more extract, Document D-866, which will become GB-459. That is a further interrogation on 22 October. The first question on the document is:
“Do you believe that this order is contrary to the Prize Regulations issued by the German Navy at the beginning of the war?”
And the last sentence of the first paragraph of the answer is:
“Godt and Hessler said to me, ‘Don’t send this message. You see, it might look odd some day. It might be misinterpreted.’ ”
You don’t remember using those words?
GODT: No.
COL. PHILLIMORE: You were an experienced staff officer, were you not?