by Bower, Tom
184had decreed that. Military Law 59.
The AJC’s efforts. AJC Hevesi to Frankel, September 17, 1948.
185“constitutes an act.” AJC Memorandum, Eugene Hevesi to Slawson, September 3, 1947. Réparations-Restitutions, Côte Y–59–2, vol. 367, pp. 119–25; vol. 366, p. 295. The Russians had given the heirless property to the East German state.
When the French. Allemagne, Réparations, Côte H–15, 13 State Department 2, vol. 1112, pp. 66–7
“a bad mistake.” FO 192/201 pt 5 August 28, 1947.
In Bern, Selous. FO 192/200 Pt 3 May 17, 1947; FO 192/206 June 9, 1948.
“It’s not our.” E 7160 (A) i 1968/54 May 25, 1947.
186“The provocation by.” E 7160 (A) i 1968/54 Bd 4 Protokoll AK June 24, 1947.
187“become an amusing.” E 7160 (A) i 1968/54 August 26, 1947, and see April 22, 1948; FO 192/201 pt 5 September 9, 1947.
“We can defeat.” E 7160 (A) i 1968/54 Bd 23 July 8, 1947.
“War criminals” no. Ibid.
188“it would not.” E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374 January 22, 1947.
To avoid the. E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374 May 29, 1947.
189“We are sure.” E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374 August 21, 1947.
“I confirm,” wrote. E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374 October 30, 1947.
190By then, the. Picard, Missing Victims, p. 7.
190To the bankers. E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374 December 23, 1947.
“Millions of Swiss.” E 4110 (A) 1973/85 Bd December 1, 1947.
Inspired by a. FO 192/201 pt 5 September 15, 1947.
191Jewish groups attacked. E 7160 (A) i 1968/54 vol. 5 October 28, 1947.
“preferring to let.” FO 192/201 pt 5 September 27, 1947.
“The Americans, of.” FO 837/1288 October 24, 1947.
“weaken our bargaining.” Ibid.
There had been. RG 59 1945–9 Box 4236 Rubin/Adams memorandum of a conversation October 23, 1947.
192Rubin and his. RG 59 1945–9 Box 4238 800.515/11–2547 November 25, 1947.
“Regrettably, the Compensation.” E 7160 (A) 1 1968/54 Bericht über die Tätigkeit der Abteilung, 1946/47.
“were so convincing.” TB/King.
193“a little dangerous.” E 7160 (A) i 1968/54 Bd 23 (Nr 1–91).
a “disadvantageous manner.” E 7160 (A) i 1968/54 Bd 639.
Jann presented no. RG 56 U.S. Treasury, re Swiss banks and Safehaven, Mann memorandum for the files, June 3, 1947.
Ott’s lack of. RG 56 U.S. Treasury, re Swiss banks and Safehaven, Ostrow to Schwab October 1, 1947.
195Nothing more, the. E 2800 (-) 1967/61 Bd 91 (Affidavits, fausses certifications).
196“principles of morality.” RG 59 1945–9 Box 4238 King dispatch No. 15567 800.515/11–1947.
The “charade,” King. TB/King.
“as only an impotent.” RG 59 1945–9 Box 4242 King to Washington February 16, 1948 800.515/2–1948; King’s Confidential memorandum 800.515/4–1949 Box 4254.
While the French. RG 59 Swiss Negotiations 1943–54 Box 1 Legg to King February 23, 1948.
197“The Swiss are.” FO 837/1288 September 5, 1947.
the “American intention.” FO 192/206 April 21, 1948.
“ignorance and crass.” FO 837/1290 October 28, 1948.
197the “slow tempo.” FO 192/206 January 20, 1948.
“We mustn’t throw.” E7160 (A) i 1968/54 vol. 5 February 22, 1948.
In the meantime. FO 192/206 January 20, 1948.
“I’m not displeased.” E 7160 (A) i 1968/54 vol. 5 January 13, 1948.
Officially, the State. State Department instruction 3855 May 19, 1947.
198“may come with.” The Papers of General Clay (Indiana University Press, 1974), vol. 2, p. 568.
is “wasting time.” FO 837/1290 August 10, 1948.
199smacked of interference. Public Law 671; RG 59 1945–9 Box 4255 e.g. Congressman Cellar to Thorp May 18, 1949; Senator Howard McGarth to Acheson May 10, 1949. TB/Rubin.
Shortly afterward, Rubin. RG 59 1945–9 800.515/3–2448 Box 4243.
Stucki meanwhile returned. E 7160 (A) i 1968/54 vol. 5 May 11, 1948.
Switzerland’s claims that. FO 192/198 “Swiss trade policy during the war, Zurich 1946.”
Clever accounting had. FO 371/93941 August 10, 1951.
the “untenable position.” FO 192/206 May 5, 1948.
200By then, Britain’s. FO 192/206 April 15, 1948.
“As monstrous a.” FO 192/206 June 18, 1948.
“fed up with.” FO 837/1174 February 2, 1949.
“It would not.” FO 837/1293 June 15, 1949.
201“I’ve no doubt.” E 7160 (A) i 1968/54 vol. 5 May 11, 1948.
“would create insurmountable.” RG 59 Negotiations with Switzerland 1948–57 Box 12 September 28, 1949; FO 192/206 letter February 19, 1948 23rd Mtg, item 2.
“We know that.” FO 192/206 letter February 19, 1948 23rd Mtg, item 2.
“did not want.” E 7160 (A) i 1968/54 Bd 24 Exposé Nr 94.
202“The Swiss government.” RG 59 State Department 1945–9 800.515/6–1349 Bx 4256 June 13, 1949.
202In private, Ott. E 7160 (A) i 1968/54 vol. 5 April 22, 1948.
“when the Allies’.” E 7160 (A) i 1968/54 vol. 6 November 23, 1948.
Members of the. RG 59 Economic Affairs Branch, Negotiations with Switzerland Acheson 1943–57 Box 11 5/11/50. The case of Günther von Haniel.
“I strongly warn.” E 7160 (A) i 1968/54 vol. 5 January 13, 1948.
Exceptions were naturally tolerated for the Swiss. Dr. Theodor Eisenring, a rich and influential politician regarded as a feudal lord, effortlessly overcame the rules against trading in German assets by ignoring letters, applications by the Compensation Office to the court and even judgments by the courts (E 7160 (A) i 1968/54 Bd 28 (Korrespondenz) November 22, 1949).
203“We thought that.” E 7160 (A) i 1968/54 vol. 5 June 1, 1948. “in view of.” FO 192/211.
With special permission. TB/Bach.
204“The Swiss government.” AJD letter July 7, 1948 Weiss to Eli Rock.
Both the British. AJDC Rubin Memorandum May 10, 1949.
“I leave it.” Réparations-Restitutions, Côte Y–59–2, vol. 362, p. 51.
205To seize more. Bundesblatt 1949, I, S. 769ff April 13, 1949. The Swiss proposal was to stipulate that the qualifying date of residence in Germany should be extended to June 1946, when the Washington Accord had been signed—rather than February 1945, when the freeze had been decreed.
“The negotiations are.” AJC memorandum June 6, 1949, and see Rubin memorandum to Hevesi May 11, 1949.
CHAPTER 12: THE POLISH CONSPIRACY
207He still trusted. TB/Isenbergh.
“The amount of.” E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374 January 21, 1948.
208Other European countries. AJC letter to von Steiger August 3, 1949; AJC letter September 21, 1949.
209Switzerland, he warned. AJC report July 11, 1949 Jacobson to Schwartz.
210“This is a serious.” AJC Rubin to Eugene July 22, 1949.
On the other. E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374 (Polnische Ansprüche).
212“At the appropriate.” E 7110/1967/32/Polen 890.0/1294 See Hug and Perrenound, Assets, p. 86.
The origin of. E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 775 (Polen) April 25, 1949.
Speich told Troendle. E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374 (11) March 18, 1950.
213“as soon as.” E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374 (Polnische Ansprüche) June 15, 1949.
Knowing of the. E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374 (11) September 15, 1949.
Alexander had also. E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374 (Polnische Ansprüche) June 14, 1949.
214“Your spontaneous solution.” Ibid.
“Swiss nationals will.” E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374(11) August 3, 1949.
“confidential exchange of.” E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374 (11) August 4, 1949.
215“It is incompatible.” E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374 (11) August 26, 1949.
“I am sure.” E
4001 (C) 1 Bd 309 (1800) August 5, 1949.
“this American Jewish.” E 4001 (C) 1 Bd 309 (1800) August 19, 1949.
“The agreement contradicts.” E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374(11) September 1, 1949.
“no great importance.” E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374 (11) September 9, 1949.
216Parliament was unaware. E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 775 (Polen) September 22, 1949.
“The agreement with.” E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374 (11) September 15, 1949.
216The secret clause. E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 775 (Polen) October 7, 1049.
the “tragic travesty.” AJC Rubin to Fisher October 7, 1949.
The American plan. RG 59 1945–9 Box 4256 800.515/6–949.
“attitude on this.” AJC Rubin to Hevesi October 17, 1949.
217“was like comparing.” E 7160 (A) i 1968/54 vol. 7 April 12 and June 17, 1949.
Pompously, he refused. IRO September 30, 1949 Hacking to Jimmy. By May 1949, $18.5 million had been paid over to IRO out of the $25 million promised.
Giving any further. E 7160 (A) i 1968/54 vol. 7 January 24, 1950.
The property of. AJC memorandum Hermann Simon September 28, 1949.
218By then, Petitpierre’s. E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374 (11) September 15, 1949.
219“Publicity will be.” AJC Central Zionist Archives S43–243.
Isenbergh, he predicted. E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374 (11) October 17, 1949.
220“on the same.” E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374 (11) November 4, 1949 and December 1949.
After speaking to. E 2800 (-) 1967/61 Bd 88 (Nationalbank) June 30, 1949.
221“make the Swiss.” AJDC Rubin to Hevesi December 6, 1949.
Objections from Bern. New York Times December 7, 1949.
Picard, Missing Victims, p. 7.
222was “excessively feeble.” FO 837 1174 February 2, 1949.
“The situation is.” AJC letter James Rice to Max Isenbergh December 9, 1949.
223“The British,” wrote. AJDC Jacobson memorandum December 14, 1949.
Convinced that his. AJC letter James Rice to Max Isenbergh December 9, 1949.
During the war. Safehaven Report No. 4 April 9, 1945.
224Like all the. AJC Isenbergh report December 19, 1949.
224The British were. AJDC letter Rice to Jacobson December 14, 1949.
“I’ll try my.” TB/Isenbergh.
“not without a.” Allemande-Suisse, Avoirs de l’état, Côte 4–21–2, vol. 1022, pp. 62–6.
“If the agreement.” FO 837/1175A December 29, 1949; RG 59 1945–9 Box 4259 800.515/12–2149 December 23, 1949.
225In the margin. E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374 (11) December 20, 1949.
“bending the rules.” E 1301 1/394 pp. 703/4; Hug and Perrenound, Assets, p. 89.
“error, a blunder.” E 2001 (E) 1970/217 Bd 209 (Herrenlose Vermoegenswerte) February 13, 1957.
the “unfriendly attitude.” AJDC AR 45/64 1207 December 27, 1949.
226“That point about.” AJDC Rubin memorandum January 9, 1950.
If, contrary to. FO 837/1175A January 4, 1950.
227In a press. Federal Political Dept, press release, February 1, 1950.
Suspecting that the. E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374 (111) March 14, 1950.
228The lawyer’s dignity. E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374 (111) January 10, 1950.
“In previous years.” E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374(111) April 25, 1950.
No one in. AJDC AR 45/64 #1207 Translation of Federal Council statement March 22, 1950.
229To inquiries from. E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374 (111) February 28, 1950.
230Both sides understood. Hug and Perrenound, Assets, pp. 76–8.
“A whitewash,” commented. AJDC AR 45/64 #1207 Robinson to Rock April 11, 1950.
But Acheson’s passing. RG 59 Economics Affairs Branch, Negotiations with Switzerland 1943–57, Swiss Accord Box 3 Acheson to Vincent June 10, 1950.
230“guilty of grave.” Ibid.
“more than content.” FO 837/1175A February 28, 1950.
“no such assets.” FO 837/1175A March 12, 1950.
“to keep him.” FO 837/1175A March 6, 1950.
CHAPTER 13: NEW HOPE
231Dean Acheson promptly. RG 59 Box 1013 254.0041/6–1550 June 15, 1950.
For the Foreign. FO 837/1175A June 25, 1950.
Given British policies. FO 371/93941 August 2, 1951.
That desire for. State Department to British embassy November 13, 1950.
“fan the flames.” FO 837/1175A May 12, 1950.
232“rather barren argument.” FO 837/1175A May 17, 1950.
“formerly called Hirsch.” E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374 (11) December 30, 1949.
Appreciating that Switzerland’s. E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374 (111) April 26, 1950.
233This Israeli was. E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374 (111) April 27, 1950; E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374 (111) July 4, 1950.
Since this scheme. E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374 (111) July 18 and October 24, 1950.
234an “embarrassing” position. FO 837/1298 February 24, 1951.
After negotiating the. FO 837/1304 September 5, 1951.
“It has for.” FO 837/1303 July 1951.
Stucki acknowledged the. E 7160 (A) i 1968/54 Bd 28 (Korrespondenz AK) December 1, 1949.
Given renewed swagger. E 7160 (A) i 1968/54 Bd 124 June 20, 1950.
Retreating, Stucki resorted. E 7160 (A) i 1968/54 Bd 124 March 8, 1951.
235The Germans, he. AJC letter to McCloy July 31, 1951.
“Now that they.” Bower, Blind Eye to Murder, p. 424.
235Included in Bonn’s. RG 59 1950–54 Box 1013 Vincent to Washington May 2, 1950.
“It’s a question.” E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374 (111) March 20, 1950.
Stucki’s withdrawal from. Hug and Perrenound, Assets, p. 45.
Bill 603, introduced. HR 1849 and HR 2780, two similar bills.
236To conceal the. E 2001 (E) 1970/217 Bd 29 (Anfragen Privater, Herrenlose Vermoegenswerte) May 15, 1950.
“The Allies never.” E 7160 (A) i 1958/54 Bd 28 (Korrespondenz AK) June 20, 1950.
237“During the whole.” E 2001 (E) 1970/217 Bd 209 April 6, 1954.
“Please write to.” E 2001 (E) 1970/217 Bd 209.
The “problems,” condemned. RG 59 1950–4 Box 1013 254.0041/7–1150.
238But suddenly the. RG 59 1950–4 Box 1016 254.1141/3–2151.
“do nothing to.” E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374 (111) November 6, 1950.
The bank’s objection. E 4264 1985/57 Bd 250 (Dossier Reginek) M 15532. Eventually the Polish government validated the documents.
Too often, the. E 4110 (A) 1973/85 Bd 3 (d).
239Since their own. E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374 (111) March 16, 1951.
“We agree,” Zehnder. E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374 (111) August 2, 1951.
“Don’t expect any.” E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374 (111) August 13/14, 1951.
240“Glaringly exposes the.” Ibid.
“Israel needs foreign.” E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374 (111) September 17, 1951.
241“You advised me.” E 4110 (A) 1973/84 Bd 4 October 6, 1952.
242Shaken by Oetterli’s. E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374 (111) December 1, 1951.
Switzerland, they knew. E 2001 (E) 1967/113 Bd 374 (111) December 7, 1951.
242An official census. Bulletin No. 28, October 1951.
“special legislation introduced.” AJC report November 10, 1952.
243eighteen-page letter. E 2800 (-) 1967/61 Bd 91 (Affidavits, fausses certifications).
By then, the. E 2800 (-) 1967/61 Bd 88 (Banques Suisse) April 7, 1948.
244“important external considerations.” E 2800 (-) 1967/61 Bd 91 (Affidavits, fausses certifications).
245Mendelssohn-Bartholdy was. E 2001 (E) 1968/79 Bd 2.
Had Frölicher realized. E 2001 (E) 1968/79 Bd 2 (Finanzielles, Depots von Privatpersonen).
246Protected by British. See Bower, Blind Eye to Murder, p. 1 and passim; and see also FO 1046/274 and FO 1046/210 for A
bs’s interrogations by the British where he lied about his wartime activities.
“The Swiss,” commented. FO 371/99856 June 6, 1952; FO 371/99853 March 10, 1952.
Although his continuing. By May 1949, $17.5 million had been paid over to IRO out of the $25 million promised: $12.5 million, Sweden’s full payment, $5 million from Switzerland and nothing from Portugal, which refused to abide by the Washington Accord.
“do something about.” E 7160 (A) i 1968/54 November 11, 1951; “grotesque’: E 7160 (A)i 1968/54 vol. 9 March 13, 1951. “Switzerland stood up.” FO 371/99854 February 26, 1952, Der Bund article. Among the many excuses given by Bonn to derail the debts conference, the Germans claimed that if they compensated the 3,300 Germans who had lost assets in Switzerland, they would also be obliged to compensate the nine million dispossessed German refugees from Eastern Europe.
247“On grounds of.” RG 59 State Department, The Legal Advisor—Records Relating to Postwar Settlement Issues 1939–63, Gold Netherlands Box 12.
Corroboration was provided. Ibid.
247“Switzerland has already.” RG 59 Records re Negotiations with Switzerland 1943–57 Box 2 August 17, 1948 C87.
Observing the State. FO 837/1159 January 25, 1947.
248Yet, despite all. State Department Swiss Accord February 23, 1951; FO 837/1287 August 16, 1948.
“It’s time for.” E 7160 (A) i 1968/54 vol. 9 March 13, 1951.
“They say the.” E 7160 (A) i 1968/54 Bd 28 (Korrespondenz AK) August 1951.
Instead they were. E 7160 (A) i 1968/54 Bd 29 (Korrespondenz AK 1952–4) June 13, 1952.
“on behalf of.” E 7160 (A) i 1968/54 November 11, 1951.
grateful to receive. FO 371/99848 December 29, 1951.
249“It was a.” E 7160 (A) i 1968/54 October 7, 1952.
“whose epithet as.” Allemagne, Côte 4–21–2, vol. 1027, pp. 12–14. Under the agreement, Germany undertook to pay SF121.5 million to Switzerland and SF121.5 million to the Allies to cover the Allies’ claims under the Washington Accord. No German assets in Switzerland were sold. In total, Switzerland recovered SF650 million of its loans to Germany, including the SF121.5 million.
“we opposed them.” E 7160 (A) i 1958/54 Bd 95 October 9, 1953; E 7160 (A) i 1958/54 vol. 5.
250On April 7. FO 371/105797.
“have done very.” FO 371/105776.
“As usual the.” AJC April 3, 1953.
251“I am astonished.” E2001 (E) 1969/121 Bd 155 (Herrenlosen Vermoegen) January 24, 1952.