Then, to the best of my memory, I did not talk officially to Herr Von Hindenburg about these governmental matters again until 22 January.
SIR DAVID MAXWELL-FYFE: Well now, just let us see what the Chief of the Presidential Chancellery says about it, and see whether he can reinforce your memory. Would you look at Herr Meissner’s affidavit, at the second part of Paragraph 6?
[A document was handed to the defendant.]
My Lord, it is 11a, Page 45, about 7 lines from the foot of the page.
[Turning to the defendant.] You see, just after the first section of Paragraph 6, Defendant, the second part, it begins:
“Schleicher first made these suggestions to Hindenburg in the middle of January....”
Then the next sentence is:
“In the meantime Papen had returned to Berlin and, through arrangements with Hindenburg’s son, had several talks with the President. When Schleicher renewed his demand for emergency powers, Hindenburg declared that he was unable to give him such blank authority and must reserve for himself decisions in every individual case. Schleicher, for his part, said that under these circumstances he was unable to stay in the Government and tendered his resignation on 28 January 1933.”
Then, Paragraph 7:
“In the middle of January, when Schleicher first asked for exceptional powers, Hindenburg was not aware of the meetings between Papen and Hitler, particularly the meeting which had taken place in the house of the Cologne banker, Kurt von Schröder. In the second part of January Papen played an increasingly important role in the house of the Reich President, but in spite of Papen’s persuasions Hindenburg was extremely hesitant, until the end of January, to appoint Hitler Chancellor. He wanted to have Papen as Chancellor once more. Papen finally won him to Hitler with the argument that the representatives of the other right-wing parties which would belong to the government would restrict Hitler’s freedom of action. In addition Papen expressed his misgivings that, if the present opportunity were once again neglected, a revolt of the National Socialists and civil war would be likely.”