701.6232/34
The Ambassador in Brazil (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 26.]
Sir: I have the honor to inform the Department that Herr Hans Henning von Cossel, Cultural Counselor of the German Embassy in this city has been recalled by his Government and will leave Brazil within the next few days. Herr von Cossel has directed Nazi party activities in this country for the past year. Several months ago, during the course of an informal conversation which I had with the Minister of Justice, Dr. Francisco Campos, I called the latter’s attention to Herr von Cossel’s presence here. The Minister of Justice was not aware of the nature of Herr von Cossel’s work and was very much surprised to learn that he was the head of the Nazi party in Brazil. I was subsequently informed that both the Ministry of Justice and the Foreign Office have closely watched Herr von Cossel’s movements.
Yesterday the German Ambassador, Mr. Karl Ritter, called upon the Chief of Police of the Federal District, Captain Filinto Muller, with Herr von Cossel, for the purpose of advising the Police that the latter was returning to Germany and in view of recent events and accusations, he did not wish to leave Rio without obtaining a clean “bill of health” from the Authorities. The Chief of Police immediately gave Ambassador Ritter, a written statement to the effect that there was absolutely no complaint or suspicion against Herr von Cossel.
[Page 417]It is also reported that thus far the Police have not verified anything of a compromising nature with respect to the participation of Germans in the recent Integralista “Putsch”.
Respectfully yours,