362.1121 Simpson, Lawrence/54
The Consul at Hamburg (Schnare) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 5.]
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the Department’s telegraphic instruction of July 18, 12 noon,7 requesting the submission of a full, written report as to the circumstances under which Lawrence Simpson, an American seaman, was arrested in Hamburg and to indicate whether reports that he was kidnapped and beaten by German secret police are accurate. Simpson was the subject of the Department’s telegraphic inquiry of July 15, 6 p.m.,7 and of my reply on the following day7 to the effect that he had been apprehended because found in possession of communistic propaganda material and is accused of being involved with seventy others in communistic activities.
In reply, I have the honor to state that, on the morning of June 28, 1935, a telephone message was received from the Hamburg police authorities advising that they wished to arrest several seamen employed on the S. S. Manhattan which would arrive in Hamburg that morning and requesting that, in keeping with the usual practice, an American consular officer be present at the time of the arrest. Accordingly, Consul Yates of this office met the Manhattan at the pier and was with the captain on the bridge when an inspector of the State Police of Hamburg appeared and identified himself and stated that he had boarded the ship at Cuxhaven and, on searching the crew’s quarters, had found in the quarters of Lawrence Simpson large quantities of communistic propaganda material together with balloons with fuses attached, apparently intended for use in broadcasting the communistic pamphlets. Captain Randall, the commander of the vessel, [Page 292] confirmed the fact that the communistic propaganda material had been found in Simpson’s quarters and that the German authorities appeared to be within their rights in seizing him. The inspector asked whether there were any objections to taking the man ashore under arrest and was advised there were not. He was, accordingly, placed under arrest and taken ashore.
About 10 days later, on July 8, Consul Yates made inquiries concerning Simpson’s whereabouts and developments in the case and learned that he had been placed in the concentration camp (Konzentrations Lager) in Fuhlsbuettel pending trial; that he is suspected of being one of a group of about 70 persons involved in an important case known as “Mehlis und Genossen” (Mehlis and accomplices); and that the collection of evidence and preparation for the trial might require considerable time, for which reason he had not been detained in the local jail but placed in the concentration camp on the outskirts of the city, where his surroundings are much less irksome and confining than in the local prison.
On July 19, Consul Yates visited Simpson in the concentration camp at Fuhlsbuettel and talked with him in the presence of the sectional prison director who requested that his case be not discussed. Simpson appeared to be in good physical condition and had no comment or complaint to make regarding his treatment. The authorities showed every consideration to Consul Yates, who states that he informally discussed with Simpson the offense with which he is charged and that he admitted he had been in possession of the communistic propaganda material but asserted that he had no intention of smuggling it ashore, a responsibility which fell upon someone else. Upon suggesting that he well knew what sort of work he had been engaged in, Simpson replied that it was true but that he had not known that it was liable to get him into trouble. Consul Yates states that, for a native-born American, Simpson shows an astounding knowledge of German.
In view of the foregoing, it can be categorically denied that Simpson was kidnapped and stated that there appears to be no reason to believe, either from the circumstances surrounding his arrest or from his appearance and statements, that he has been beaten by the German secret police.
The State Department of Hamburg has been requested to furnish this office with a complete report of the case and the Department will be kept currently advised of developments. It is understood that Simpson can communicate in writing with this Consulate General whenever he wishes and that he may be visited at any time by representatives of this office, if necessary.
Respectfully yours,