NUREMBERG, March 12, 1946 (UP) - Lord Halifax in an affidavit prepared for the War Crimes Court has expressed belief that Reichsmarshal Hermann Goering would have kept Germany out of war if he had been able, the American-sponsored News Zeitung reported today.
The affidavit, not yet submitted to the tribunal, was prepared at the request of defense counsel for Goering.
Asked regarding Goering's sincerity in wanting to prevent war, Halifax said: "I have no doubt that Goering would have preferred it if he could have done it."
Halifax was questioned as to his contacts with Goering personally and through Birger Dahlerus, a Swedish engineer. He said that while staying at Goering's house, Karin Hall, in November, 1937, the Nazi leader told him peace would depend "very much on Britain." Halifax said Dahlerus told him in August, 1939, that Goering was trying around the German foreign office to prevent war.
Asked if the British ambassador to Germany at the time told him that Goering was "making every effort to avert the outbreak of war," Halifax replied, "No."
