Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1943, The British Commonwealth, Eastern Europe, the Far East, Volume III

711.62114A/38a: Airgram

The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Harrison)

Washington, September 10, 1943—6 p.m.

A–339. American Interests—Germany. It is reported that two American officers from Oflag IX A/Z were forced to go to Katyn.³¹ Request Swiss to report any information they may be able to obtain in the premises without approaching the German authorities.

Hull

31. The two officers were Lt. Col. John H. Van Vliet, Jr., senior American officer at Oflag IX A/Z, a prisoner of war camp at Rothenburg, Germany, and Capt. Donald B. Stewart, both of the U. S. Army. For Lieutenant Colonel Van Vliet’s testimony before the Select Committee to Conduct an Investigation of the Facts, Evidence and Circumstances of the Katyn Forest Massacre, see the Committee’s Hearings, 82d Cong., 1st and 2d sessions, pt. 2, pp. 32–73. For Captain Stewart’s testimony, see ibid., pt. 1, pp. 2–29.