TRANSLATION of Radiogram from Vice Chancellor von Papen to Board of Trade for German-American Commerce,
230 Fifth Avenue, New York
March 27, 1933.
To your telegraphic inquiry the following reply is sent: The reports circulating about alleged encroachments against Ameri-
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can business interests and other excesses are absolutely unfounded. Business, life, traffic, and commerce are normal since the National Government is in power. Complaints about wrongs against American interests were not reported by the local American Chamber of Commerce which gave on the 10th a big farewell dinner to ambassador Sackett. Reports about the existing state of siege and censorship of news are imagined. The degree for censorship for letters and telegrams was instituted against communistic activity of suspected persons. The goal of the National revolution to free Germany from the threatened communistic danger and administration or inferior elements has been accomplished with remarkable order. The American Embassy reported less than a dozen cases of excesses against Americans to the Reichs-Government, which all were of a light nature. It could not be determined whether these were committed by National Socialists. The reports circulating in America about alleged torture of political prisoners and mistreatment of Jews are received here with indignation and are rejected by us without foundation. Hundred thousand Jews—no matter what their nationality—live here unmolested if they are not active politically. Business in numerous Jewish business places and in big Jewish publication houses, as Mosse, Ullstein, Frankfurter Zeitung, etc., is entirely normal. Synagogues and Jewish cemeteries were not disturbed. Certainly some regrettable incidents occurred, but since the declaration of the chancellor on 12 March that unlawful single actions should be stopped as otherwise they would be strongly resented, nothing has happened anymore. The opposite reports circulating in America to which also the alleged Bartholomews night planned for the night of 4 March belongs, originate undoubtedly from sources with strong interests to poison the friendly relations between Germany and America and the National Government and discredit us with the American people systematically although we are supported by the majority of the German people.
[signature] Vice Chancellor von Papen I affirm that this is a true copy of the translation.
[signed] WILBUR K. THOMAS.
3 December 1945.
[Extract from New York Times, Tuesday 28 March 1933.]
Von Papen's message was as follows:
News which has reached you of alleged encroachments against
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American business interests and of other excesses is entirely without foundation. Business life, travel, and commercial intercourse have been proceeding absolutely normally since the national government has taken office. No complaints about interference with American interests have been reported by the American Chamber of Commerce in Berlin which on 10 March gave Ambassador Sackett a great farewell banquet.
"State of Siege" Denied
Reports that a state of siege and news censorship exist are free interventions. The emergency decree under which mail and telegraphic communications can be supervised is directed against persons suspected of communistic plots. The national revolution, the goal of which it is to free Germany from serious communistic danger and remove from the administration all inferior elements, has been accomplished with remarkable order.
The American Embassy has reported to the Reich Government less than a dozen cases of excesses against Americans, all of which are of a light nature and which by no means have been established as having been committed by National Socialists. Reports circulated in America and received here with indignation about alleged tortures of political prisoners and mistreatment of Jews deserve strongest repudiation.
Hundreds of thousands of Jews irrespective of nationality, who have not taken part in political activities, are living here entirely unmolested. Operations of large Jewish enterprises and big Jewish publishing houses, such as Mosse, Ullstein, and Frankfurter Zeitung, are absolutely normal. Synagogues and Jewish cemeteries are undisturbed.
Undoubtedly there have been a few regrettable excesses. However, since the declaration of the Chancellor on March 12 that illegal acts by individuals have to stop and will be most severely dealt with, nothing more has happened. News to the contrary which is circulated in America including a story of an alleged St. Bartholomew night, said to have been planned for the night of 4 March, clearly emanates from sources strongly interested in poisoning the friendly relations between Germany and America and systematically discrediting with the American people the national government, although it is based on a majority of the German people.
The radiogram, sent from the Foreign Office in Berlin to the trade board here at 230 Fifth Avenue was made public by Albert Degener, secretary-treasurer of the board.
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Message to a German-American business group denying that the German government has harmed American interests or persecuted political prisoners and Jews, asserting that only a few "excesses" have occurred
Authors
Franz Papen, von (Vice-Chancellor; ambassador)
Franz von Papen
German general staff officer, politician, diplomat, nobleman and Chancellor of Germany (1879–1969)
- Born: 1879-10-29 (Werl)
- Died: 1969-05-02 (Sasbach)
- Country of citizenship: German Reich; Germany
- Occupation: diplomat; military personnel; politician
- Member of political party: Centre Party (until: 1932-01-01); Nazi Party
- Member of: Union-Klub
- Participant in: Hostages Trial (date: 1947-10-03; role: affiant)
- Significant person: Wilhelm List (role: acquaintance)
Date: 27 March 1933
Literal Title: Copy of Radiogram from Vice Chancellor von Papen to Board of Trade for German-American Commerce, 230 Fifth Avenue, New York.
Defendant: Franz Papen, von
Total Pages: 2
Language of Text: English
Source of Text: Nazi conspiracy and aggression (Office of United States Chief of Counsel for Prosecution of Axis Criminality. Washington, D.C. : U.S. Government Printing Office, 1946.)
Evidence Code: D-635
Citation: IMT (page 3260)
HLSL Item No.: 453498
Notes:The second page is an extract from the New York Times (28 March) repeating the message of the radiogram. The document dates the radiogram as 27 March, but in the transcript this is corrected to 25 March 1933.