Evening star., 1945-11-23
By GEORGE TUCKER

| 81
NUREMBERG, Nov. 22-Fran,
Won Papen has informed the Inter.
national War Crimes Tribunal that
the genuine "last testament" of Fiele
Marshal Paul Won Hindenburg urgee
Adolf Hitler to help restore tht
Hohenzollern monarchy in Germany
and to avoid combining the Offices O,
head of the state and head of the
| government.
The legislative and executive
branches must always remain sep.
arate,' Eindenburg said, as quoted
by Won Papen. 1T is my wish that
Germany return to the monarcha
form OF government after my
death"
Hitler was President Hindenburg' s
chancellor in the last 19 months OF
the Hinoenburg regime, and after
Hindenburg's death in 1884 COM
bined the presidency and chancel-
lorship into the Office of Reichs-
fuehrer.
The Nazi government that year
published a document described as
Hindenburg's last will and testa-
ment. It's authenticity was widely
questioned, particularly a section
which by implication urged Hitler
to combine the Offices of head of
the reich and head of the govern
ment.
Won Papen Wrote Document.
Won Papen says he drew up the
original document at Hindenburg S
request, and in a letter dated Octo-
Der "a, l945, has told the Nuremberg
War Grimes Court that the true
Hindenburg will never was pub
lished. BY American request, Won
Papen reconstructed the will from
memory while awaiting trial as a
war criminal.
The wording is not Identical" he
said, but the thoughts and desires
of the Reich president are au-
thentic."
The original document, which Won
Papen says he prepared in April,
1884, while acting as Hindenburg'
vice chancellor, was reconstructed in
a Nuremberg jail cell on the request
OF Thomas j. Dodd of Hartford,
Conn, a member of Justice Robert
H. Jackson's senior trial panel.
Papers relating to the conspiracy
count in the indictment against the
major Nazi war criminals include
testament" declared spurious
which the Nazis published under
Hindenburg's name.
Hitler Action Feared.
Won Papen told Mr.. Dodd and the
international tribunal that Hinden-
burg's warning against consolida-
ton of the two high Offices was
promoted by the obvious danger that
Hitler would attempt to have him
self elected Reich president or else
promote the acquisition of this post
by one of his followers.
Both possibilities had to be pre-
vented" Won Papen said. "As an
alternative, it seemed best to restore
the constitutional monarchy"
Won Papen said he then broached
the matter to Hitler, who seemed
to be completely in favor of the idea.
Hitler frequently had voiced admira-
ton for Prussias rulers. he said.
1t is good idea to consider
restoration of the monarchy" Won
Papen quoted Hitler as saying. I'VE
can do it as soon as I have restored
order to the Reich reasonably well.
The monarchy must have a good
start - -z -- :ss.ssss
Won Papen said he went straight
to Hlndenburg and suggested that
he draw up statement dealing with
the monarchy and the question of
its succession, through which he
might express his last will to the
German people.
Hindenburg Agreed.
Won Papen said Hindenburg agreed
and instructed him to prepare the
testament.
"As the result of further discus
sion. it was deemed necessary that
if Hindenburg should bequeath such
a public testament he should in
his last will express his views not
only on the question of succession.
but also on general foreign and
domestic policies and such prob
lens as were occupying the German
people at that time" Won Papen
said.
Won Papen. himself twice chancel-
lor of Germany, said Hindenburgs