By STEPHEN W. HOUGHTON II
John E. Dolibois, former U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg, spoke to the Chautauqua
Literary and Scientific Circle about his experiences as an interrogator of
the major Nazi leaders after World War II.
During his talk at the Hall of Philosophy, Dolibois related a funny story of how he had first realized what his new post-war assignment was.
He was in the middle of unpacking his clothes at the prisoner of war camp where he had been assigned. There was knock on his door. Thinking it was his new commanding officer, Dolibois opened the door.
''There was a man standing there. He was about five foot ten inches tall and about the same length across,'' he said. ''He was dressed in a gray uniform decked out with metals. He clicked his heals and said 'Goering Riechsmarshall.' My jaw dropped and I just stood there.''
Dolibois said it was fortunate he was so shocked at seeing the former leader of the German Air Force because Goering came to the false conclusion that he was the welfare officer for the prison. As a result he spoke freely with Dolibois giving him information that he might have tried to hide from an interrogator.
Dolibois said that similar tricks are being used to get the members of Al Qaida and the Taliban held at Camp X Ray in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to give the United States information to tack down terrorist around the world.
''The German leaders were brought to Luxembourg for interrogation for the same reason Al Qaida operatives are being interrogated at Guantanamo Bay now,'' Dolibois said.
The appearance of both Barrett and Dolibois were cosponsored by the Robert H. Jackson Center in Jamestown. Additional Robert Jackson related events will be held this week.