862.20225/1004
The Ambassador in Chile (Bowers) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 5, 1944.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to my strictly confidential despatch No. 6911 of July 2, 1943,66 in which it was reported that Nazi organizations in Chile had not been appreciably undermined within the six previous months and that the morale of the Germans in this country did not appear to have deteriorated to any significant degree.
Further support of this opinion is provided by the Legal Attaché’s report of December 8, 1943, on the National Sozialistische Deutsche Arbeiter Partei, a copy of which is enclosed.66 The information in question was given the Legal Attaché by a very reliable source who had succeeded in gaining the confidence of various Nazi Germans in Temuco and had actually attended a meeting of eight or ten Nazis at the Fundo “Chunimpa” on the Rio Cruces near Valdivia on September 25 last. At this meeting Fritz Awe read a circular message in German which it is assumed was written by Walter Boettger, Landesgruppenleiter of the N.S.D.A.P.67 in Chile and former Commercial Attaché to the German Embassy, since the initials “W. B.” appear at the end of the circular. The Legal Attaché’s source of information obtained possession of this document for several days and it is understood that he showed it to the Legal Attaché’s representative in Temuco.
The Department’s attention is invited to the following significant excerpts from the circular, as translated into English: (different from the translation contained in the Legal Attaché’s report):
“Our party, as well as all of its related organizations, has been officially dissolved. Every party member will understand the meaning of the word ‘officially.’[”]
“We are leaving now, but enough men, German men, will remain, who know where their duty lies, when the occasion arises. National Socialism originated in Germany but it has now penetrated into every corner of the world and it will not disappear even though we are vanquished in battle; National Socialism will continue to live! We know that we will rise again, possibly very soon, and then we will destroy and purify what we deem necessary.”
“We have the satisfaction of knowing that there will never be any measures taken in Chile as has been the case in Perú and Brazil from which our German brothers have suffered so tremendously. There will never be concentration camps in Chile, of that we are certain, and this assurance makes it easier for us to leave. As has been stated previously, postal communication will be maintained at certain intervals via Buenos Aires.”
These statements are noteworthy because they indicate that Nazi organizations in Chile continue to operate clandestinely; that the Germans connected with these organizations have little or no fear of action against them on the part of the Chilean Government, but on the contrary appear to be confident of their position in this country; and that the Nazis in Chile plan to carry on the campaign of National Socialism even though Germany is defeated.
Respectfully yours,