THE PRESIDENT: Now, Dr. Merkel, you may speak.
DR. MERKEL: I should only like to stress briefly that these statements
which are presented here are not statements of an official government
agency and cannot be considered as governmental records. Rather, they
are only minutes which have been taken in police offices and thus can in
no way be authentic declarations of a government or of an investigating
committee. I emphasize once more that these declarations, which have
certainly been taken—partially at least—in minor police precincts,
have not been made under oath and do not represent sworn statements; and
I have to protest firmly against their being considered as evidence
here.
THE PRESIDENT: Do you wish to add anything?
DR. MERKEL: No.
THE PRESIDENT: Who is M. Binaud?
M. DUBOST: He is the Police Inspector of the Special Police, who was
attached to the Special Commissariat of Saint Gingolph.
I must correct an error made by the Defense Counsel, who said this was a
minor police office. This was a frontier post. The Special Commissariats
at frontier posts are all important offices even though they are located
in very small towns. I think that is the same in all countries.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, M. Dubost, you understand what the problem is? It
is a question of the interpretation of Article 21.