362.1121 Simpson, Lawrence/208: Telegram

The Chargé in Germany ( Mayer ) to the Secretary of State

247. Instructions contained in the Department’s telegram 95, July 29, 2 [6] p.m., carried out.

The Department’s viewpoint was readily acknowledged at the Foreign Office although as a weak defense it was stated that Simpson himself had requested detention in a concentration camp rather than to be brought before a court of justice. In reply to the report the German Ambassador made after your interview he was informed that serious charges against Simpson involve among other things distribution of Communistic propaganda in Germany for 6 months prior to arrest and that sentence would probably be severe.

Now that the legal matters reported by the Consulate General yesterday are arranged and after our representations the Foreign Office gave practical assurance that the trial would be set for the forepart of September.

Mayer