1947-03-19, #2: Doctors' Trial (late morning)

THE MARSHALL: The Tribunal is again in session.

KURT BLOME — Resumed CROSS EXAMINATION — Continued

BY MR. HARDY:

Q: Dr. Blome, is the name Graefe familiar to you?

A: I didn't quite get the name.

Q: Is the name Graefe familiar to you; that is spelled G-r-a-e-f-e?

A: Yes, I know that name.

Q: Who was Graefe?

A: The Graefe I am speaking about was called Albrecht von Graefe, the lead of the German People's Liberal Party.

Q: Did you ever cooperate with Graefe?

A: Up to the time when in 1923 I was excluded from the Party on the basis of a certain demand I made to Graefe.

Q: Now, Graefe worked together with Hitler and Ludendorff, did he not?

A: Yes.

Q: Doctor, were you ever involved in any political trials?

A: I was directly mixed up in a political trial when I was once indicted after the fights at upper Silesia. The reason for the indictment was the recruitment for formations of a military character which were prohibited. I was presented before a Court at that time and I was then acquitted. Afterward on the basis of the influence of the Red Mecklenburg Government, an appeal was made against that acquittal and a new date was set for my trial before a higher court. However, this trial did not come about since I had applied to call the Reichs President, Dr. Ebert, and the Finance Minister Dr. Gradenhauer as witnesses. That was not desired for some political reasons, and therefore the proceedings were quashed.

Q: Now, you participated in the so-called Kapp uprising which was aimed at the overthrew of the German Republic, and which did not succeed, didn't you?

A: Yes, I participate in that Kapp-Putsch. I participated as a regular soldier with the Reichswehr [Reich Defense]. I was a so-called volunteer. A new Government was formed at that time when the Kapp-Putsch arose, and I had no knowledge about their intentions. At that time the Government officially asked for volunteers for entry into the Reichswehr. Subsequently all the students of the University of Rostock reported as volunteers, who had been combat soldiers during the war.

Q: You state you did not know the intentions of this Kapp uprising or what it was for.

On page 105 of your book you describe your participation in the so-called Kapp-Putsch, which you state aimed at the overthrow of the German Republic, which did not succeed. You further state the fact you were able to escape the Police who wanted to arrest you for that crime. Now, Doctor, you were somewhat of an organizer in those days, weren't you?

A: No, I certainly was not. I was a simple soldier. I said before that I had no knowledge beforehand, about this intended Kapp-Putsch. Afterwards I certainly gained knowledge about the motives which lead to this Putsch, and the aims that were pursued, that was clear, and I wrote about that in my book.

Q: Did you ever organize a regiment to be used in illegal warfare against the Poles in upper Silesia?

A: No, we were not concerned with any illegal warfare. I organized a regiment which was to be committed in upper Silesia, but at that time we were concerned with regular troops of the German Government under the charge of General Hoefer. They fought in upper Silesia, and the aim was to see that upper Silesia would not fall over to Poland. At that time Partisan fights were occurring between Poles and Germans, and this was done on the Polish side under the change of Corvanti. The German Government called for volunteers at that time, and as it was a case of emergency all former soldiers of the first World War reported for this purpose. The financing and organizing of these troops was done by means of Reich funds which were put at the disposal of Ebert by the Reich Finance Minister Dr. Gradenauer. That is the reason why I applied at that time to have Ebert and Gradenauer as witnesses in my case. After that the proceedings were quashed.

Q: Now, you state on page 120 of your book that you, Dr. Blome, assembled a regiment in the illegal Nationalist organizations, which waged illegal war against the Poles in upper Silesia. Now, Doctor, did your participation in these activities aid you in the medical profession?

A: In that connection I must say something else before answering the question. I don't think that the words are contained in the book that you have just mentioned. May I ask you to show me the book, so I can look at the page or pages, and read the passage that you are referring to?

Q: You may read that aloud, Doctor.

A: Yes.

Q: It is marked on page 120 in lead pencil, and here it is marked with a black lead pencil with an arrow pointing to it.

A: I read it aloud, and I quote:

For foreign political reasons this recruiting could not be done in public. Part of my friends went into the confidence of Lt. Commander Manfred von Killinger under Corvanti, who were already fighting in upper Silesia.

This is what is underlined in black pencil. From that it can be seen clearly that this is not a question of any illegal fight against Poland, but that the legal German Reich Government at that time for foreign political reasons did not wish for any public recruitment. The fights which were waged by the Germans which were approved and financed by the Reich Government were legal fights where the Polish side, or the Corvanti, as it was stated at that time by the commissioner of the League of Nations, were warfare of illegal Polish Partisans. They went beyond the ventures that were set out in the Versailles Treaty. The Polish liked to take some more German territory and that is the background of these fights.

Q: Now, Doctor, We will proceed to the next question. I will not quibble with you about the legality or the illegality of that warfare going on in Upper Silesia. Now, did you participate in these political activities in order to aid yourself in the medical profession?

A: We, on the contrary I participated in these activities since I considered them to be my duty as an old decent combat soldier. I wanted to see to it that no parts of Germany would be taken away from them contrary to the Versailles Treaty and through my participation and organization of these fights, I really had professional disadvantages.

Q: Well, Doctor, on page 121 of your book you stated in substance that for this reason your approbation of a Doctor's title was expedited by a professor who had understanding for your position and that your assembling or hiring of a regiment was complete success; wasn't your medical practice and studios incidental to your political and military commitments?

A: No, I can explain that to you very clearly. Even no doubt when writing my doctor's paper, I had already been working at the hygienic institute experimentally at the University of Rostock and it was my ambition to write a very good paper. After one year's activity, when having to leave Rostock in order not to be persecuted politically, I at that time went to my professor and asked him to correct my work. Whereupon he said that I would not reach such high results and I said that all I was concerned with was that my doctor's paper was considered to be efficient. Then, on the basis of my doctor's paper, which is quite well known, I was promoted to Doctor in a very scientific and fair manner.

Q: Well, now, can you tell us what the Brigade Erhardt was; you were a member of that organization; what was it?

A: Yes, I can tell you that the Brigade Ehrhardt was a free corps, it was a free corps which was commanded by Captain Erhardt composed of former navy, soldiers and officers. For a long time it was used for the maintenance of order, in order to suppress the threatening Communism. It was committed at that time by the Reichs Defense Minister Nesko, then the Brigade Erhardt participated in the Kapp Putsch. This was a company financed by the Reich and completely regular. I did not belong to this company, which I am speakof, at this time, but I had connections with them.

Q: Were you also a member of the secret organization Consul; what was that organization?

A: Yes, I was a member of the secret organization Consul, the organization Consul was a continuation on a small scale of the just mentioned Brigade Erhardt. At that time when committing the Brigade Erhardt, in order to protect the government, this free corps, as well as many other free corps, were promised a regard to volunteers for their services and sacrifices by settlement, then this promise for some reason was later not kept; that probably happened in connection with the Kapp Putsch. When the question are so for Captain Erhardt how he could care for his people who felt themselves deceived, he went to Bavaria and tried to find work for his former group. This work mainly consisted of their activities as timber and forest workers. Erhardt at that time founded some kind of a timber firm and for completely external reasons he was spoken to as Mr. Consul and this is the reason for the designation O.C. which means Organization Consul.

But, I want to state very expressly now, that this Organization Consul contrary to the Old Brigade Erhardt, was an illegal organization and I belonged to that organization.

Q: These organizations were working systematically for the overthrow of the Nationalistic Government; weren't they?

A: You can hardly say it in that form. Before, here you used the expression against the Republic; now you are saying Nationalistic Government and I want to formulate it exactly. These organizations were working for the overthrow of the Government as it existed at that time. For reasons of the general economic collapse which came about because the Weimar constitution did not give us any decent possibility of a democracy, but a merely a distorted picture of a Democracy; consequently thirty or forty parties existed in Germany at that time.

Q: Now, your participation in these organizations which were working for the overthrow of the German Republic, were rather strange activities for an ambitious young medical German man; weren't they?

A: Well, it is not strange at all, not even in the case of an ambitious young medical man; in the first instance I was a decent German and a decent combat soldier of the World war, I could not watch these events in Germany as they prevailed at that time, as it was the case with millions of other Germans and that is the reason why I participated in movements whose aim it was to remove and overthrow these incapable Governments in Germany at that time.

Q: Now, Doctor, as I understand it from your book, the first visible sign of progress along the lines of your political leanings was in 1922 upon the foundation of the German Nationalistic party and its cooperation with Adolf Hitler, is that correct?

A: I don't know whether you made a mistake or whether there was a mistake in the translation. You were speaking about the German National Party. Do you mean the German People's Liberal Party?

Q: It has been translated for me from your book as the German Nationalistic Party and cooperated with Hitler, and that foundation was in 1922, and you stated that that was the first visible sign of progress along the lines in which you were interested, is that right?

A: Yes, that is correct, and that is in accordance with facts as the objective observer sees them. That is how the situation was at that time.

Q: You were a native of Mecklenburg, weren't you?

A: Yes. I come from Westphalia. I had been living in Mecklenburg for some time, and I consider that as my real home.

Q: Now it was the aim to make the electorate Mecklenburg into a nationalistic bastion, wasn't it?

A: "Bastion" or "fortress" sounds like something military, something connected with arms and force. Naturally it was the aim to bring about a strong point in Mecklenburg of a national character.

Q: Now you were also a publisher of a nationalistic newspaper named "Heimdaal", if my pronunciation is correct. That is spelled H-e-i-m-d-a-a-l, is that right?

A: Yes, Heimdaal.

Q: You didn't have such time for medical work, did you, Doctor?

A: Yes, I had such time for that. I was very industrious.

Q: Well, now, did you ever participate as a speaker in nationalistic mass meetings?

A: Yes.

Q: You also participated as an opposition speaker in Communistic meetings, didn't you?

A: Yes.

Q: Now, as a matter of fact, you were so busy politically that you and your friends organized protection for these meetings consisting of people from the Brigade Erhardt and Rossbach, both of which were secret military organizations, didn't you?

A: I didn't receive any personal protection from the Free Corps of Rossbach, but I really had nothing directly to do with that organization. Perhaps in order to hit at the core of your question, and what I am going to say now I think is what you really mean, naturally we protected our meetings at that time. If we as old national men and as decent front soldiers who had remained nationalistic opened our mouths during a meeting, and were not at the same time in a position to defend ourselves, we would have been beaten to pieces, by the communist and we certainly had no desire to be beaten to pieces. On the contrary, it was our intention to take up the fight against these people, and we proved that we were able to do that.

Q: Now in these early days Hitler's success or failure was of deep concern to you according to your book, is that right?

A: Do you mean with that Kapp Putsch of 1923?

Q: That's right.

A: Yes, I regretted that. I regretted it, and that can be seen in my book. Decent National German policeman and decent German National thinking men had to shoot and sacrifice, as resulted. I regretted that as I have always regretted it even later whenever Germans had to beat one another up.

Q: Now, Doctor, after Hitler's unsuccessful attempt to overthrow the Government, you came to the conclusion, didn't you, that Nationalistic ideas were marching and that they could not be stopped? Is that what you state in your book?

A: Yes. I stated that in my book, and what I was writing about actually came about in effect. The development as it succeeded later on had to follow in that way from a legal point of view. That is, not according to the written laws of a State Legislation, but according to the unwritten but thousand fold proven historically laws of the development of political events at that time where the intolerances and suppression was the highest principle of a Government system, and that was the case at that time.

Perhaps you will be speaking about later times, and there again I shall prove to you the same thing.

Q: Well, Doctor, how do you account for the fact that your illegal units did not participate in Hitler's attempt to overthrow the German Government?

A: Do you mean the 9th of November 1923?

Q: That is what I mean.

A: That is very simple to explain. At that time I received no information about that Putsch. If I had received information in time in the morning of the 9th of November at eight or nine o'clock in the morning the Putsch will start, then I certainly wouldn't have participated in that Putsch. That is a sure thing. I have nothing to keep quiet about in that connection. That is how the situation was at that time and today I confess to that honestly, and just as I am saying it here today, it is written in my book which is public.

Q: Well, now, have you ever been a political candidate, Doctor?

A: Yes. You mean parliamentary candidate?

Q: Yes.

A: Yes.

Q: You became in February, 1924, a member of the Mecklenburg County Legislature, didn't you?

A: Yes.

Q: You were a member of a National Workers Community, is that it?

A: Yes, National Workers Community.

Q: What caused you to become a politician Doctor?

A: The reason is very clear, and I think I am quite able to explain it clearly. Up to 1923 I had belonged to the German National Liberty Party under Graefe. Graefe had close connections with Hitler and Ludendorff.

In the year of 1923 I left that Party because demands were made which I because of a feeling of faith could not fulfill. Then in February 1924, the electorate for the Mecklenburg Diet came up. Since I had a number of followers in Mecklenburg, I had to fear that the votes of these followers would get lost. The result would have been yet another Red Government in Mecklenburg ruled by Communists and Social Democrats. It was not my desire to bring about a victory of the Red Parties by leaving the German National Liberty Party. Consequently, in order to see to it that these votes wore given to a proper party, I decided to find a new Party which bore the name National Workers Community. I received four seats in the Mecklenburg Diet with that Party, and these seats in the Diet safeguarded the National majority in Mecklenburg. We got a National Government in Mecklenburg which would not have come about if I had acted differently at that time.

Q: Now on page 179 of your book, Doctor, I note with interest that you state that you became a politician as you, being an old fighting soldier, felt the shame of Versailles. Isn't that the same reason that Herman Goering extended?

A: It may be the same reason. I didn't discuss this question with Herman Goering. At any rate, it would be wrong of me to state here today that at that time I did not feel that Versailles was a shame for the German people. This point of view was represented by the majority of German people, and I also represented that point of view.

Q: That's right. You state that you felt the shame of Versailles, Doctor. When did you become a member of the SA, Doctor?

A: On the first of July, 1931.

Q: Now, from your book I gather that the reason why you became a member of the SA was that you wanted more and more to be active in the political light between national socialism and communism, is that right?

A: Yes, that is correct, for the development of affairs in Germany were coming to a head with an enormous speed and were leading to a dispute between the two extremes. These extremes were communism and national socialism on the other hand At that time, as I believe I already stated here in Court, I considered for a long time whether to become a national socialist or a communist. The deeper reason I didn't become a communist at that time was because of the dictatorship of Soviet Russia, the form of government of Soviet Russia.

Q: Now you became a Gausturmarzt, that is a doctor for the Gau in the SA, doctor, that was your title or rank?

A: Yes, that was a designation which later changed to Untergruppenarzt [Subgroup Doctor]. This comprised the SA members in the Gau, you see the SA was called the Gausturm at that time and that was the title for the doctors, was Gausturmarzt.

Q: Your last rank which you received in 1941, was that of General Arzt or General Gruppenarzt, I understand the title to be, is that right?

A: My last rank, the rank which I received in 1942 was medical group leader, gruppenfuehrer in the SA.

Q: Did you actively participate in the functions of the SA?

A: I participated actively in the SA up to the year 1936. I then left the active SA service.

Q: I noted on page 238 of your book you state that from 1931 on you marched regularly with the SA. You were pretty proud in those days, weren't you?

A: Perhaps you want a reply to that question. You put a question if I am not mistaken.

Q: Strike it, doctor, and we will go on to the next question.

When did you form the so-called discussion circle where the national Socialist newspapers, that is the Voelkischer Beobachter [National Observer], were daily discussed. I will spell that for you, if necessary. V-o-e-l-k-i-s-c-h-e-r and B-e-o-b-a-c-h-t-e-r, and the other paper, Angriff [Attack]. Now you formed a discussion circle. When did you form that circle?

A: I don't know anything about any discussion group which I am supposed to have formed. I know very well that these papers were in my ante-rooms when I had my very extensive practice, and that the patients who are sitting outside were always wanting to read these papers, and that was also true of my political opponents, but I knew nothing about the discussion group. Perhaps it is a mistake in the translation.

Q: Doctor, we will go on. Did you organize the medical service of the SA?

A: I organized the medical service of the SA in Mecklenburg, not for the Reich. I was not competent to do that.

Q: On page 243 of your book you stated you organized the medical service of the SA and took part in the training of the SA on the basis of some regulations which were valid for the armed forces. Now you state it was only for Mecklenburg County for which you organized the medical units, is that right?

A: Yes, that is correct. In the case of this description we were concerned with the settling up of a medical battalion in the University City of Rostock. This medical battalion was equipped in exactly the same way as a medical company of the Reich answer at that time, according to the same battalion.

Q: You continued to be a member of the SA after it was forbidden by your Government, didn't you?

A: After the SA was forbidden by my Government?

Q: By the German Government?

A: You mean the year 1932?

Q: Yes.

A: Before National Socialism came about?

Q: Yes.

A: At that time the SA had been prohibited in some of the German counties. This wasn't true of the entire Reich. It was not a prohibition extending to the entire Reich. In Mecklenburg at that time we had a Red Government and this Government prohibited the SA following the example of other counties in Germany. That is true.

Q: I note again with interest, doctor, on page 245 of your book, you state you and your friends had an SA flag which was dedicated to Hitler. You were always loyal to the Fuehrer, weren't you?

A: May I ask you what do you mean by "always". Do you mean that period of time?

Q: That period of time, yes.

A: There I was loyal with regard to that time. That is correct.

Q: Now then on page 246 you state you went to meetings in that part of Germany where the NSDAP were in power, and, therefore, many of the party organizations were not forbidden, is that right?

A: Yes, that is partly true. In 1931, approximately in October, there was a large SA meeting in Brunswick. Brunswick at that time had a national socialist government. Since we were not concerned with the Reich Prohibition of the SA, it was a matter, of course, that a national socialist government in their own county didn't prohibit the SA, and for that reason Hitler invited the SA for a large scale meet ing in Brunswick and I also participated in that meeting.

That was a mere formality and I can tell you that in civilian clothes I went as far as the Brunswick frontier. Once we arrived at the Brunswick frontier, we stopped the car and went into a ditch and took off our civilian clothes and put on the SA uniform. These were conditions as they prevailed in Germany at that time.

Q: You also attended many mass meetings for Adolf Hitler, didn't you?

A: In the year 1932 I participated in all meetings of Hitler in Mecklenberg, meetings which he held in connection with the Diet election. I naturally participated in these matters.

Q: I notice here on the photograph here on page 257 of your book, it gives your name on a very prominent place on a poster for a mass meeting for Adolf Hitler. That is the type of meeting you attended, is it?

A: I believe we are not here concerned with a meeting of Adolf Hitler. I think that this is a meeting of the national socialist German Workers' Party, but that year I was speaking on the occasion of the Riechstadt election. Hitler wasn't speaking. I was speaking.

Q: How do you account for the bold type, the name, "Adolf Hitler", at the top of the poster, doctor? Wasn't Hitler there?

A: May I see it once more, I mean the book?

(The book is handed to the witness)

May I continue?

Q: I say, wasn't Hitler there at that meeting?

A: No, Hitler, wasn't there. I just want to explain this poster very shortly. On top it says: "Adolf Hitler." Beneath that: "Faith and Hope of Millions." This was the slogan under which the meeting was carried.

Two names are mentioned as speakers, the name of Biochka of Berlin and Blome in Rostock.

Q: You were most impressed with Hitler, weren't you, when he appeared in Rostock, and gave a speech there?

A: Yes, I was.

Q: You had a favorable impression of Goering the first time you heard him speak too, didn't you?

A: Yes, Goering wasn't an unknown personality in the least. I knew Goering from the old World War, though not personally. I had been in a position to watch Goering as he shot down enemy fighters at the front in a very expert and skillful manner. As a former front soldier I was full of sympathy towards an old fighter pilot, and that is a matter, of course, that is true of every country in the world.

Q: Now on page 260 you quoted Goering as saying: National Socialism will finish with high treason. Heads will fall. And you further indicated you were very satisfied as you had the feeling Goering was a man who would never become soft. You felt Goering was the right man for the job, didn't you?

A: Excuse me. I think something was incorrect in the translation. Why don't you repeat the beginning of your question. I understood the last of your question but repeat the beginning?

Q: I said, on page 260 of your book you quoted Goering as saying:

That National Socialism will finish with high treason and that heads will fall.

You further indicated in that same section of your book you were very satisfied with Goering as you had the feeling Goering was a man who would never become soft. Therefore, you felt that Goering was the right man for the job, didn't you?

A: No, this description is not quite true. Maybe it is due to the translation. I will explain it. What I mean to say, or rather I don't want to say in my book, that National Socialism would deal with people who had committed him treason, that Goering is the right man, and that heads would fall.

Q: Just a moment, doctor. I will have you read the section from your book. It is marked in red pencil.

A: Yes, why don't you do that? Yes. May I read aloud a little from that paragraph? I quote:

In Gusstrow I saw Hermann Goering for the first time as a speaker. It was said about him that as soon as National Socialism got to power it would quickly deal with people who had committed high treason and that their heads would fall. After having heard him speak we were extremely satisfied for we had the assurance that here was a man who would never be soft.

In that connection as far as to say the following: It says here:

People who had committed treason against the fatherland, and not people who had committed high treason, men who had committed treason against the fatherland, and so there were people who had committed treason on a lower level. The fact that a man who committed, treason against his country would lose his own head in every civilized country in the world as a well known fact. No country can tolerate a man who commits treason against his country. That is the most shameful crime.

Q: Now, doctor, in the course of the direct examination you have stated that the reason why you didn't include any reference to World War II in your book was because of the fact that you were definitely opposed to it. Now, I am asking you were you interested in preparations being made by the Nazis to wage aggressive war?

A: I knew nothing about any aggressive preparations on the part of Hitler or Germany. Consequently, I wasn't in a position to be interested.

Q: Did you ever participate in the secret arming of Germany?

A: Do you mean whether I ever participated in any secret arming of Germany?

Q: That's right.

A: I wasn't in a position to choose of any arms and I naturally could participate in no secret arming of Germany.

Q: Did you ever receive funds to equip illegal medical units?

A: Illegal medical units? Arm them? Oh, yes, I know what you mean new. Yes. What you probably mean is the setting up of the Medical Battalion of the SA in Rostock which I had mentioned before, the Battalion which was equipped in the same way as a Medical Company of Reichswehr at that time.

That in effect happened but that was very publicly. Training took place in public, the equipment was bought at official German firms, and the money came from funds of the German Red Cross at Mecklenburg.

Q: Now, doctor, did you ever held lectures about war surgery, gas poisons, and medical tactics in those early days?

A: The heads of this Medical Battalion, that is to say the SS physicians, amounted to over one hundred in Mecklenburg. They participated in a course which I activated in the year 1933 or 1934 and which was set up for the purpose of giving these physicians old medical technical knowledge, as well as other medical knowledge necessary in case of a war. At that time there was not yet the general duty for military conscription in Germany but we could read in foreign papers daily that the National Socialistic State found very little sympathy in the world. One could indirectly interpret the foreign press as expressing threats of war. We all expected that sooner or later some country would find some reason to start war with us. Since we saw the position in that light we naturally generally rearmed. Germany was placed into the defense situation and that was naturally also done in the medical service. The entire German population at that time was well satisfied with this new order and welcomed these measures of rearmament and felt themselves safeguarded by them. That, on the other hand, has nothing at all to do without you mean and if I tried to get to the core of your question, namely that I or generally the German people, thought to set up any medical companies or to again receive the opportunity to set up fighting forces because we knew something about the military intentions of Hitler, I can assure you here under oath that if we or the German people had known at that time that these preparations were going to serve as offensive arms of Adolf Hitler then Hitler's days, I am sure, would have been numbered at that time.

Q: Well, now, on page 265 you spoke about your participation in the secret arming of Germany. In fact you mentioned that you received large amounts of money for the equipment of medical units, had hold lectures on war surgery, gas poisons, and medical tactics. That is marked in red pencil I wish you would read that aloud to the Tribunal. Read slowly so the interpreter can follow.

At the top of the page.

A: Yes. I would like to.

I could now begin to realize my old plan, namely to set up a medical battle in which was started in 1932 and equip it just as a regular company of the Reichswehr. Since Germany had not yet regained its military liberty we had no choice but to work quietly for the emergency of again and again threatened war, namely for re argument. The Medical Service of the one hundred thousand man Army, as it was defined by the Versailles Treaty certainly could not suffice as it was [illegible] every reserve was welcome. I succeeded to obtain a large sum of money and with that get the complete equipment necessary for a medical company. The physicians very ardently worked for the war time equipment of this medical company. In case of war I would have been in a position to give to the Wehrmacht a completely equipped medical company and place them entirely at their disposal.

This money which has been mentioned here originated from the German Red Cross at Mecklenburg which was here for medical purposes. And, had a war came about it would have helped the wounded and sick soldiers — the soldiers of Germany as well as the soldiers of their opponents.

Q: Isn't there another quotation on that same page before we finish up this noon, doctor? Isn't there another quotation at the bottom of the page that I have marked with red pencil? Will you read that also? The one that goes over to the next page, would you read that, too, please?

A: Yes, that is the continuation of what I have just read.

Q: This is a convenient breaking point, your Honor, I am going on to another subject.

THE TRIBUNAL: The Tribunal will now be in recess until 1330.

(A recess was taken.)