740.00116 European War 1939/1225: Telegram
The Minister in Sweden ( Johnson ) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 3—1:23 p.m.]
4. Corcoran2 states that pro-German Swede in contact with German civilian and military officials who passed through Göteborg states that high military officers have protested against German Government proposal to hold mock trials of captured British and American airmen in reprisal for Russian trials and execution of war guilty at Kharkov. German Propaganda Ministry has been dissuaded from its original plan because there is definite apprehension as to results of increasing public feeling against Allied airmen, many of whom have been murdered by infuriated civilians when falling in German territory after raids on German cities. Goebbels3 still urges that trials be held but military and naval offices advocate cessation of all propaganda against Allied airmen. Repeated as my 5 to London.