Office of the Historian

840.48 Refugees/11–2144: Telegram

The Chargé in Switzerland (Huddle) to the Secretary of State

Bern, November 21, 1944—10 a.m.
[Received 6:30 p.m.]

7668. Legation’s 7542, November 15.43 Minister Feldscher44 now visiting Bern stated during interview Foreign Office that German Government’s refusal accept notes mentioned fourth paragraph telegram under reference based principally on second reason stated—menacing tone of notes and German objections to accepting such [Page 1179] reproaches from another government. Although he assures Germans his position is only that of channel of communication between belligerents, they show resentment against Swiss for transmission of communications bearing threats from American Government. He emphasized tension already existing between Foreign Office officials and heads of Gestapo and other branches German Government which only aggravated if such threats are passed on by former and adds that notes containing threats are not taken seriously by latter and receive no action except evasive replies.

In view foregoing and undoubtedly serious and adverse effect upon his relations with Foreign Office officials because of his transmission of menacing communications from our Government, Feldscher expressed desire that messages to German Government bearing warnings to German authorities against committing specified offenses or threats to bring individual officials before tribunals to answer for wartime offenses be not transmitted Swiss Legation. De Pury45 and Bisang46 share foregoing views.

Huddle
  1. Not printed; it referred to two notes (containing substance of first and second paragraphs of telegram 3245, September 20, to Bern, p. 1159) which the German Government had refused to accept since it did not recognize the right of Swiss representatives as representing American interests to intervene in favor of bearers of Latin American identity documents, and additionally it considered the tone of these notes unacceptable (840.48 Refugees/11–1544).↩
  2. A. Feldscher, Swiss Minister in Germany.↩
  3. Arthur de Pury, Chief of Division of Foreign Interests of Swiss Federal Political Department.↩
  4. Emile Bisang, member of Division of Foreign Interests of Swiss Federal Political Department.↩