Alfred Dreyfus Reviews Case Against Him, Proclaims His Innocence, and Demands Another Trial

Wednesday, December 26 1900

Mr. Prime Minister,

I am accused by certain people of having sent in 1894 an infamous letter to the German Emperor. This letter, with the Emperor's annotations, is supposed to have been stolen and constitutes the formal proof of the crime for which I have been twice unjustly condemned.

The document that was presented at the trials of 1894, 1898 and 1899 is said to be only a copy.

This new lie, because of its origin, cannot be dealt with contempt only.

The journalist who propagates and spreads this lie, in spite of ten official denials, did not invent it. According to this journalist, it comes from revelations communicated to him by careless people who learned it from a messenger of the General Boisdeffre.

The photographs of the fake letters from the German Emperor, as well as of the one annotated by him, have been shown many times; tomorrow, for many misled people, this inept legend might become the truth.

My innocence is absolute; I will fight for this innocence till my dying breath in order to have it legally demonstrated through a revision of my trial.

I am not the author of the document annotated by the Emperor, nor am I the author of the original, authentic document, 

since the author is Esterhazy.

With the exception of Henry, all the main authors of my unjust condemnation are still living. I am not stripped of all my rights, I retain the right of any man, which is to defend his honor and to have the truth proclaimed.

I still have the right, Mr. Prime Minister, to ask you for an investigation, and I have the honor to request it.

Please accept, Mr. Prime Minister, the expression of my utmost respect.

ALFRED DREYFUS.