Page "Herschel Grynszpan" Paragraph 33

: One day, and unless I am mistaken it was in the spring of 1939, I met Moro-Giafferi on Boulevard St. Michel, and I asked him for news of Grunspahn ( sic ) for whom he was the defence lawyer.

He had just come from visiting him in his cell, and was revolted by the attitude of his client.

" That young man is a fool, infatuated with himself ", he said.

" He refuses to give a non-political character to his act by saying for example that he assassinated vom Rath because he had had money quarrels with him following homosexual relations.

Yet, such an attitude in regard to the murder of vom Rath is necessary, in order to save the Jews of the Third Reich, whose lives are becoming more and more precarious in regard to the prosperity, their health, their futures, etc.

If only ... he would deny the political motives of his crime, and assert that he had only personal vengeance in mind, vengeance as a victim of homosexuality, the Nazis would lose their best pretext for exercising their reprisals against the German Jews who are victims of his fit of madness and now, of his obstinacy.

" I asked him if Grunspahn really had had relations with vom Rath.

He replied, " Absolutely not!

" I said to him then, " But as a defender of Gruhnspahn shouldn't you protect not only the interests of your client, but his honour as well?

" It was at that moment that Moro-Giafferi exclaimed, " Honour!

Honour!

What is the honour of that absurd little Jew in the face of the criminal action of Hitler?

What does the honour of Grunspahn weigh in the face of the destiny of thousands of Jews?