VON RIBBENTROP: Yes.
M. FAURE: You declared yesterday that you were responsible for the acts
of your subordinates?
VON RIBBENTROP: Yes.
M. FAURE: Would you tell me if Dr. Best, Plenipotentiary for Denmark,
was a member of your Ministry?
VON RIBBENTROP: Yes.
M. FAURE: Dr. Best told you, did he not, that Hitler had given an order
to assassinate Danes when there were acts of sabotage?
VON RIBBENTROP: May I ask you to repeat the question?
M. FAURE: According to the documents that have been produced before the
Tribunal, Dr. Best saw you on 30 December 1943 and told you that Hitler
had given the order to assassinate Danes when there were acts of
sabotage in Denmark; is that so?
VON RIBBENTROP: Yes, that was to be done against saboteurs. Hitler had
ordered it.
M. FAURE: The order, according to the terms employed by Dr. Best in the
document, was to “execute persons, terrorists or non-terrorists, without
trial.” Can that not be considered as assassination?
VON RIBBENTROP: From the beginning I strongly opposed these measures,
and so did Dr. Best. We went so far as to...
M. FAURE: Defendant, I am not trying to say that you were pleased with
this state of affairs. I am merely asking you if you were informed
thereof. Is that correct?
VON RIBBENTROP: Yes, the Führer wanted that. I do not know the details.