Jun. 10, 1969

To His Eminence

Cardinal DDr. Franz König

Rotenturmstr. 2

1010 Vienna

Your Eminence!

I refer to yesterday's conversation with you, in which I briefly described my request and you encouraged me to send you this letter and my manuscript "The Sunflower". May I take the liberty of giving you a brief summary of its contents:

In June 1942, a young SS man who was dying confessed his crimes to me. He told me that he could only die in peace if a Jew forgave him. I felt compelled to deny him this mercy. Later I discussed this incident a great deal with my concentration camp comrades. After the liberation I visited the mother of the young SS man, but I did not have the courage to tell her the truth about her son.

Since I could not get this experience out of my mind, I decided to write it down. At the end, I ask the question that still deserves an answer today because of its political, philosophical and religious implications: Did I act rightly or wrongly at that time?

I decided to put this question directly to personalities from different countries, whose opinion I value highly. So far I have received statements from Stefan Andres, Albrecht Goes, Prof. Gollwitzer, Church President Dr. Niemöller, Federal President Dr. Heinemann, President Leopold Senghor, Carl Zuckmayer, Salvador de Madariaga, Gabriel Marcel, René Cassin, Manès Sperber, Primo Levi, Hans-Werner Richter, Luise Rinser, Golo Mann, Bishop Bluyssen, Abraham Heschel, Michel Riquet S.J., Ernst Simon, Jaques Maritain, Hermann Kesten, Herbert Marcuse, Dr. Kempner, and others. These statements are between four and six pages long.

I take the liberty of sending you by the same mail the manuscript "The Sunflower" and ask you, if your time permits, to read it and send me your opinion.

Waiting for your esteemed reply, I remain

with the highest regard

Your very devoted

[not signed]