863.00/1798
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Germany (Wilson)
My Dear Mr. Ambassador: I have received a secret and personal telegram from Ambassador Bullitt in Paris99 saying that Mr. Bonnet1 had approached him, officially and formally, but in the strictest secrecy, with regard to a communication which he had just received from the French Consul General in Vienna in which he stated that a few days ago Frau Schuschnigg had been permitted to see her husband. She had found him in an attic room in which he was being kept in solitary confinement. He was required to do all his own housework and looked ten years older and was in a very bad state of health. His mental condition had seemed even to be worse. According to Frau Schuschnigg, the guard had turned away for a few moments and Dr. Schuschnigg had time to say to his wife “for God’s sake, kill me. I cannot stand this solitary confinement any longer. I am going mad and would rather die at any minute”. Mr. Bonnet went on to say that Frau Schuschnigg had implored him to make some démarche which might help her husband. He in turn was appealing to Ambassador Bullitt and through him to me and the President to do something to help this unfortunate man. Ambassador Bullitt informed Mr. Bonnet that he did not know whether our Government might be able to be of any assistance but that he was certain, in any event, that, if we should feel able to take any steps, it would be essential that he should not say to anyone in the Cabinet or in the Quai d’Orsay that he had made the request. Mr. Bonnet assured Ambassador Bullitt that he would not mention the request to any living human being.
[Page 478]You will readily appreciate that we have been following here with the keenest interest the situation of Dr. Schuschnigg. The information which has reached us from time to time has not been reassuring. We have the definite feeling here that Dr. Schuschnigg always conducted himself as a good Austrian and as a good patriot and that he is deserving of proper treatment. There is wide sympathy for him in this country and I am of the opinion that there is a very keen interest here in what may happen to him. It is obviously impossible for this Government to take any action, officially or directly, on his behalf. I am hopeful, however, that the German authorities will realize that not only in this country but practically everywhere German interests will not be helped by the kind of treatment which is being accorded to Dr. Schuschnigg. It is not impossible that at a favorable moment and one which you may consider opportune, you might entirely unofficially, bring to the attention of Mr. Goering, or others in the German Government, the very deep interest which I and so many in this country have in the treatment which is being accorded to Dr. Schuschnigg and the hope that this will in every way conform with international practices. The treatment which he has so far received would not seem to be in accord with such practices.
I leave this matter entirely to you as to whether you should in any way take it up with the appropriate German authorities. I need not tell you that I am not informing anyone here of this action on my part and am confining myself to informing the President on his return and to sending a copy of my letter to you to Ambassador Bullitt.
With very good wishes,
Sincerely yours,