Documents

Testimonies

When the Swiss police discovered a violation of diplomatic protocol consisting in the unauthorized issuance of visas and passports, an investigation was brought against the honorary consul of Paraguay in Bern, Rudolf Hügli. Testimonies were given by Juliusz Kühl, Abraham Silberschein, Fanny Hirsch and Chaim Eiss. Their explanations make it possible to understand the course of the passport campaign and at the same time indicate the large part played by the Polish Legation.

Among the documents drawn up over the course of the investigation is a note from a Swiss police officer which contains a summary of the investigation and fragments of testimonies. Following the trial which began on 15 December 1943, Hügli was stripped of his consular post. The Polish diplomats intervened and ultimately managed to avoid more serious consequences, thus enabling the passport operation to continue.

Another important document revealing the course of the passport operation is Abraham Silberschein’s testimony from 1 and 2 September 1943. He was imprisoned at that time in St. Antoine and his involvement dated back to the beginning of his cooperation with Stefan Ryniewicz and Konstanty Rokicki, who asked him to tackle the financial issues related to the acquisition of passports. Silberschein spoke about the prices of passports and other additional costs, as well as about his full cooperation with the Polish diplomats.

The conclusions of the investigation described in one of the letters to the Swiss Department of Justice and Police are unequivocal: “It appears that Silberschein conducted the action with the knowledge of and in cooperation with the Polish Legtion in Bern who sought not only to issue South American identity documents to Jews in Germany and the General Governorate but also to entrust the purchase of passports and to arrange funds for these passports from the responsible central unit. […] After reading this file, there can be no doubt that the mission played a decisive role in the operation, to the extent that it may have to be regarded as the originator of the scheme. However, if it turns out that the consular advisor Ryniewicz intervened at the American Legation in order to have the operation not only accepted by the United States but also supported by it, and if it turns out that the order and delivery of Paraguayan passports were handled through the Polish Legation, it will be necessary to believe that Silberschein worked closely with the legation. In these circumstances, it seems that he was a tool in the hands of the Polish Legation.”

<p>1 September 1943<br />
SILBERSCHEIN Adolf Henryk, son of Jacob and Anna née POLTURAK, born on 30 March 1882 in Lwów (Poland), Polish citizen, lawyer, unmarried, resident at Rue des Pâquis 22.</p>
<p>I was born in Lwów (Poland). My father was a dentist. I studied at the universities of Lwów and Vienna. I received PhDs in Law and Philosophy, and then opened a private legal practice in Lwów. I left my office on 9 August 1939 and went to Geneva, where I was to take part in a Zionist Congress as a delegate of one of the Polish circles.<br />
I was actively engaged in Polish political life. I was the national Jewish party’s MP, and I occupied various positions in official bodies concerned with economy. At the same time, I engaged in the work of the Israeli community in Poland.<br />
My Lwów office was at Trybunalska Street 1. I lived at the same address; I was doing well.<br />
Upon arrival in Switzerland I had about 6,000 Swiss francs on me. When the war broke out on 2 September 1939, my country found itself under occupation. I petitioned for and was granted permission to remain in Switzerland. I was also allowed to enter into cooperation with the Palestinian Office and organize aid for Poles.<br />
Before the war I was a delegate to the World Jewish Congress meetings in Paris and Geneva. The Congress<br />
[handwritten signature:] Silberschein</p>
<p>Testimony of Abraham Silberschein<br />
<small>Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E4320B#1990-266#2164#4</small></p>

1 September 1943
SILBERSCHEIN Adolf Henryk, son of Jacob and Anna née POLTURAK, born on 30 March 1882 in Lwów (Poland), Polish citizen, lawyer, unmarried, resident at Rue des Pâquis 22.

I was born in Lwów (Poland). My father was a dentist. I studied at the universities of Lwów and Vienna. I received PhDs in Law and Philosophy, and then opened a private legal practice in Lwów. I left my office on 9 August 1939 and went to Geneva, where I was to take part in a Zionist Congress as a delegate of one of the Polish circles.
I was actively engaged in Polish political life. I was the national Jewish party’s MP, and I occupied various positions in official bodies concerned with economy. At the same time, I engaged in the work of the Israeli community in Poland.
My Lwów office was at Trybunalska Street 1. I lived at the same address; I was doing well.
Upon arrival in Switzerland I had about 6,000 Swiss francs on me. When the war broke out on 2 September 1939, my country found itself under occupation. I petitioned for and was granted permission to remain in Switzerland. I was also allowed to enter into cooperation with the Palestinian Office and organize aid for Poles.
Before the war I was a delegate to the World Jewish Congress meetings in Paris and Geneva. The Congress
[handwritten signature:] Silberschein

Testimony of Abraham Silberschein
Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E4320B#1990-266#2164#4

<p>appointed me a member of the administrative board. It was in that capacity that I helped establish – soon after the outbreak of the war – the Relief Committee for the War-stricken Jewish Population. This committee can actually be considered a section of the World Jewish Congress.<br />
This committee’s name is „RELICO” (short for “Relief Committee”). It has its seat at Hôtel Bellevue in Geneva. One of its members is Prof. Paul GUGGNEHEIM, resident at Avenue Beau Séjour 23. The secretary of the Committee is Mr. Gerhardt RIEGNER, resident in Florissant (I don’t recall his full address, but he may be contacted at the Committee’s seat at phone number 2.81.24.).<br />
D. Today we conducted a search of your office at rue Gautier 7 and of your apartment. We found a substantial number of new passports of various South American states that had recently been brought to Switzerland. Can you explain, in a detailed and truthful manner, what is it that you do with these passports?<br />
R. A few months ago I had an interview in the Polish legation in Bern. I met with Mr. Ryniewicz, the first secretary, and Mr. Rokicki, head of the consular section. They brought my attention to the fact that some people who were staying in Switzerland delivered passports of some South American states to Polish citizens in various German-occupied countries of Europe. These passports allowed their holders to improve their lot.<br />
What we were dealing with was a veritable “black market” of passports. The gentlemen from the Polish legation in Bern asked me to take responsibility in this regard, to which I agreed on behalf of “RELICO”. The interested parties no longer had to pay high prices: I can declare that 80% of the passports were financed from the funds of the World Jewish Congress.<br />
I came into contact with Mr. Rokicki from the consular section of the Polish legation in Bern, who<br />
[handwritten signature:] Silberschein</p>
<p>Testimony of Abraham Silberschein<br />
<small>Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E4320B#1990-266#2164#4</small></p>

appointed me a member of the administrative board. It was in that capacity that I helped establish – soon after the outbreak of the war – the Relief Committee for the War-stricken Jewish Population. This committee can actually be considered a section of the World Jewish Congress.
This committee’s name is „RELICO” (short for “Relief Committee”). It has its seat at Hôtel Bellevue in Geneva. One of its members is Prof. Paul GUGGNEHEIM, resident at Avenue Beau Séjour 23. The secretary of the Committee is Mr. Gerhardt RIEGNER, resident in Florissant (I don’t recall his full address, but he may be contacted at the Committee’s seat at phone number 2.81.24.).
D. Today we conducted a search of your office at rue Gautier 7 and of your apartment. We found a substantial number of new passports of various South American states that had recently been brought to Switzerland. Can you explain, in a detailed and truthful manner, what is it that you do with these passports?
R. A few months ago I had an interview in the Polish legation in Bern. I met with Mr. Ryniewicz, the first secretary, and Mr. Rokicki, head of the consular section. They brought my attention to the fact that some people who were staying in Switzerland delivered passports of some South American states to Polish citizens in various German-occupied countries of Europe. These passports allowed their holders to improve their lot.
What we were dealing with was a veritable “black market” of passports. The gentlemen from the Polish legation in Bern asked me to take responsibility in this regard, to which I agreed on behalf of “RELICO”. The interested parties no longer had to pay high prices: I can declare that 80% of the passports were financed from the funds of the World Jewish Congress.
I came into contact with Mr. Rokicki from the consular section of the Polish legation in Bern, who
[handwritten signature:] Silberschein

Testimony of Abraham Silberschein
Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E4320B#1990-266#2164#4

<p>has since provided me with Paraguayan passports.<br />
I received about 20 Peruvian passports from the Consul General of Peru in Geneva, Mr. Barreto. In return for these passports I gave him 10,000–12,000 Swiss francs.<br />
I received about 60 Haitian passports from Mr. BRUNNER, the Consul General of Haiti in Zurich. In return for these passports I gave him about 30,000 Swiss francs. These passports are deposited in Union de Banques Suisses in Bern.<br />
I received 70–80 Honduran passports from Mr. BAUER, the Consul General of Honduras in Bern. In return for these passports I gave him 15,000–20,000 Swiss francs.<br />
I didn’t have passports of other countries. Having obtained a passport issued in the name of a person staying in one of the occupied territories, I would make a photocopy of it and subsequently send it to the interested party, keeping the original document.<br />
On the basis of the photocopy of the passport, the German occupation authorities would recognize its holder as a citizen of a South American state, and then would intern him or her as a citizen of the country in question, and not deport as a Polish citizen. I must emphasize that the difference in treatment was enormous; it could be said that a South American passport often allowed its holder to avoid death.<br />
I made the following agreement with the above-mentioned consuls:<br />
1) holders of the newly-issued passports will not have the right of residence in the South American countries in question;<br />
2) I will keep the original documents in my possession;<br />
3) I will destroy the passports immediately after the end of the war.<br />
I would like to explain that I engaged in the passport trade solely for the purpose of providing relief to others, and in full cooperation with Polish diplomats in Switzerland.<br />
I never gave a passport to a person staying in Switzerland. The money<br />
[handwritten signature:] Silberschein</p>
<p>Testimony of Abraham Silberschein<br />
<small>Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E4320B#1990-266#2164#4</small></p>

has since provided me with Paraguayan passports.
I received about 20 Peruvian passports from the Consul General of Peru in Geneva, Mr. Barreto. In return for these passports I gave him 10,000–12,000 Swiss francs.
I received about 60 Haitian passports from Mr. BRUNNER, the Consul General of Haiti in Zurich. In return for these passports I gave him about 30,000 Swiss francs. These passports are deposited in Union de Banques Suisses in Bern.
I received 70–80 Honduran passports from Mr. BAUER, the Consul General of Honduras in Bern. In return for these passports I gave him 15,000–20,000 Swiss francs.
I didn’t have passports of other countries. Having obtained a passport issued in the name of a person staying in one of the occupied territories, I would make a photocopy of it and subsequently send it to the interested party, keeping the original document.
On the basis of the photocopy of the passport, the German occupation authorities would recognize its holder as a citizen of a South American state, and then would intern him or her as a citizen of the country in question, and not deport as a Polish citizen. I must emphasize that the difference in treatment was enormous; it could be said that a South American passport often allowed its holder to avoid death.
I made the following agreement with the above-mentioned consuls:
1) holders of the newly-issued passports will not have the right of residence in the South American countries in question;
2) I will keep the original documents in my possession;
3) I will destroy the passports immediately after the end of the war.
I would like to explain that I engaged in the passport trade solely for the purpose of providing relief to others, and in full cooperation with Polish diplomats in Switzerland.
I never gave a passport to a person staying in Switzerland. The money
[handwritten signature:] Silberschein

Testimony of Abraham Silberschein
Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E4320B#1990-266#2164#4

<p>for buying passports came from various sources: the Palestinian Committee with its seat in Jerusalem; the World Jewish Congress with its seat in New York; other Jewish organizations with their seats in New York, Istanbul, and mostly in the US and Switzerland.<br />
D. Please tell us everything you know about people engaged in the passport trade in Switzerland outside of your organization.<br />
R. I know that in Lausanne, a certain ZAIDE traded in passports, but I don’t know any details. I also know that the federal authorities have launched criminal investigation into Mr. CH. EISS, resident in Zurich, and Mr. A. SCHWARZBAUM, resident in Lausanne. These two gentlemen cooperated with the Polish legation in Bern. There was also the case of one BOTSCHKO in Montreux, but I don’t know any details. This is all I know.<br />
D. Do you have anything to add about the South American passports placed into circulation?<br />
R. Some time ago the US legation in Bern made it known to the Polish legation that they were dissatisfied with the passport trade. Mr. RYNIEWICZ intervened with the Americans on behalf of the Polish legation. Next myself and Mr. EISS from Zurich were asked to go to the American legation in Bern and explain all the details of our operation. The functionary who received us on behalf of the minister acquainted himself with the Polish point of view.<br />
Then we established telegraphic contact with the Americans, seeking to win their approval of our activities and obtain an increase in the number of passports issued by South American states.<br />
As for the Peruvian passports, I would like to emphasize on a point of order that I asked the Consul General of Peru in Geneva, Mr. Barreto, to settle this matter with his legation in Bern. He then replied, “This is my concern, and you have nothing to do with it”.<br />
[handwritten signature:] Silberschein</p>
<p>Testimony of Abraham Silberschein<br />
<small>Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E4320B#1990-266#2164#4</small></p>

for buying passports came from various sources: the Palestinian Committee with its seat in Jerusalem; the World Jewish Congress with its seat in New York; other Jewish organizations with their seats in New York, Istanbul, and mostly in the US and Switzerland.
D. Please tell us everything you know about people engaged in the passport trade in Switzerland outside of your organization.
R. I know that in Lausanne, a certain ZAIDE traded in passports, but I don’t know any details. I also know that the federal authorities have launched criminal investigation into Mr. CH. EISS, resident in Zurich, and Mr. A. SCHWARZBAUM, resident in Lausanne. These two gentlemen cooperated with the Polish legation in Bern. There was also the case of one BOTSCHKO in Montreux, but I don’t know any details. This is all I know.
D. Do you have anything to add about the South American passports placed into circulation?
R. Some time ago the US legation in Bern made it known to the Polish legation that they were dissatisfied with the passport trade. Mr. RYNIEWICZ intervened with the Americans on behalf of the Polish legation. Next myself and Mr. EISS from Zurich were asked to go to the American legation in Bern and explain all the details of our operation. The functionary who received us on behalf of the minister acquainted himself with the Polish point of view.
Then we established telegraphic contact with the Americans, seeking to win their approval of our activities and obtain an increase in the number of passports issued by South American states.
As for the Peruvian passports, I would like to emphasize on a point of order that I asked the Consul General of Peru in Geneva, Mr. Barreto, to settle this matter with his legation in Bern. He then replied, “This is my concern, and you have nothing to do with it”.
[handwritten signature:] Silberschein

Testimony of Abraham Silberschein
Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E4320B#1990-266#2164#4

<p>D. What is the nature of your relations with Mr. GAFENCO [Gafencu], the former minister of foreign affairs in Romania?<br />
R. I spoke with him on several occasions on the matter of the prospective political situation in postwar Europe. We never talked about anything relating to passports.<br />
D. Is there anything you would like to add?<br />
R. I would like to qualify my statements concerning numbers, both as regards passports and money. In order to obtain precise data, it would be necessary to consult the accounting records. I don’t have a head for figures.</p>
<p>Having read the report, I confirm the accuracy of my statement with a signature<br />
[handwritten signature:] SILBERSCHEIN</p>
<p>The account was collected by Inspector MORETTI.</p>
<p>Testimony of Abraham Silberschein<br />
<small>Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E4320B#1990-266#2164#4</small></p>

D. What is the nature of your relations with Mr. GAFENCO [Gafencu], the former minister of foreign affairs in Romania?
R. I spoke with him on several occasions on the matter of the prospective political situation in postwar Europe. We never talked about anything relating to passports.
D. Is there anything you would like to add?
R. I would like to qualify my statements concerning numbers, both as regards passports and money. In order to obtain precise data, it would be necessary to consult the accounting records. I don’t have a head for figures.

Having read the report, I confirm the accuracy of my statement with a signature
[handwritten signature:] SILBERSCHEIN

The account was collected by Inspector MORETTI.

Testimony of Abraham Silberschein
Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E4320B#1990-266#2164#4

<p>2 September 1943<br />
SILBERSCHEIN Adolf Henryk, previously interviewed, currently detained in St. Antoine prison.</p>
<p>Continuation of Mr. SILBERSCHEIN’S testimony</p>
<p>D. What prices have you determined for the passports that you issue?<br />
R. The prices are changing. Initially, for the Paraguayan passports delivered to me by Mr. Rokicki from the consular department at the Polish Legation in Bern I paid 1,000 to 1,200 francs apiece. Then you have to add the cost of making copies and shipment, which increased the price of a document to 1,100–1,300 francs apiece. Later the price of passports dropped. Currently, a Paraguayan passport costs 550 francs.<br />
Honduran passports, which I obtained later, cost 200–1,000 francs apiece.<br />
Peruvian passports cost 800 francs, if I am not mistaken.<br />
Haitian passport cost 550–650 francs apiece. I would like to point out that the Haitian consul general in Zurich, Mr. BRUNNER, expected the following payments:<br />
1 person (individual passport) – 550 francs<br />
1 couple (passport for a married couple) – 650 francs<br />
For every child over the age of 16 – another individual passport for 550 francs.<br />
[handwritten signature:] Silberschein</p>
<p>Testimony of Abraham Silberschein<br />
<small>Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E4320B#1990-266#2164#5</small></p>

2 September 1943
SILBERSCHEIN Adolf Henryk, previously interviewed, currently detained in St. Antoine prison.

Continuation of Mr. SILBERSCHEIN’S testimony

D. What prices have you determined for the passports that you issue?
R. The prices are changing. Initially, for the Paraguayan passports delivered to me by Mr. Rokicki from the consular department at the Polish Legation in Bern I paid 1,000 to 1,200 francs apiece. Then you have to add the cost of making copies and shipment, which increased the price of a document to 1,100–1,300 francs apiece. Later the price of passports dropped. Currently, a Paraguayan passport costs 550 francs.
Honduran passports, which I obtained later, cost 200–1,000 francs apiece.
Peruvian passports cost 800 francs, if I am not mistaken.
Haitian passport cost 550–650 francs apiece. I would like to point out that the Haitian consul general in Zurich, Mr. BRUNNER, expected the following payments:
1 person (individual passport) – 550 francs
1 couple (passport for a married couple) – 650 francs
For every child over the age of 16 – another individual passport for 550 francs.
[handwritten signature:] Silberschein

Testimony of Abraham Silberschein
Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E4320B#1990-266#2164#5

<p>This meant that the passports of Haiti were the most expensive kind for a family, so in such cases I preferred to issue passports of other countries.<br />
The price of a passport consists in the cost of purchase, shipment and a voluntary donation which allows us to issue a certain number of documents free of charge.<br />
D. To which banks in Switzerland and abroad have you deposited your funds? What amount is that?<br />
R. I used to have savings in Poland, but I don’t know what happened to them. I have a deposit of about 5,000 American dollars in “Jewnawall” (Jewish national workers alliance) in New York. In Switzerland, I have a deposit of 60,000 to 70,000 Swiss francs in Union de Banques Suisse in Geneva. In the same bank, but one located in Bern, I have an account with 4,000–5,000 Swiss francs. In Société de Banque Suisse in Geneva I have an account with about 60,000 Swiss francs. I also have a small account in American Express Co in Geneva. I don’t know the exact value of this deposit. All of this money is the working capital allocated to the trade of passports.</p>
<p>D. Based on your documentation, we have established that some of the passports are missing. How would you explain that?<br />
R. Some applicants had informed us that photocopies of the documents were insufficient, so in such cases we also sent the original passports. This pertains to Paraguayan passports, one Peruvian document, probably one Honduran document, and one or two Haitian documents. An analysis of our records will doubtless help to explain this matter. Having sent an original Peruvian passport, I faced some backlash during my dealings with the Peruvian embassy. I would like to stress that the Peruvian consul general in Geneva had previously agreed that I could send to the applicants all of the passports provided by him. I decided not to do it, save for that one time which later got me into trouble.<br />
[handwritten signature:] Silberschein</p>
<p>Testimony of Abraham Silberschein<br />
<small>Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E4320B#1990-266#2164#5</small></p>

This meant that the passports of Haiti were the most expensive kind for a family, so in such cases I preferred to issue passports of other countries.
The price of a passport consists in the cost of purchase, shipment and a voluntary donation which allows us to issue a certain number of documents free of charge.
D. To which banks in Switzerland and abroad have you deposited your funds? What amount is that?
R. I used to have savings in Poland, but I don’t know what happened to them. I have a deposit of about 5,000 American dollars in “Jewnawall” (Jewish national workers alliance) in New York. In Switzerland, I have a deposit of 60,000 to 70,000 Swiss francs in Union de Banques Suisse in Geneva. In the same bank, but one located in Bern, I have an account with 4,000–5,000 Swiss francs. In Société de Banque Suisse in Geneva I have an account with about 60,000 Swiss francs. I also have a small account in American Express Co in Geneva. I don’t know the exact value of this deposit. All of this money is the working capital allocated to the trade of passports.

D. Based on your documentation, we have established that some of the passports are missing. How would you explain that?
R. Some applicants had informed us that photocopies of the documents were insufficient, so in such cases we also sent the original passports. This pertains to Paraguayan passports, one Peruvian document, probably one Honduran document, and one or two Haitian documents. An analysis of our records will doubtless help to explain this matter. Having sent an original Peruvian passport, I faced some backlash during my dealings with the Peruvian embassy. I would like to stress that the Peruvian consul general in Geneva had previously agreed that I could send to the applicants all of the passports provided by him. I decided not to do it, save for that one time which later got me into trouble.
[handwritten signature:] Silberschein

Testimony of Abraham Silberschein
Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E4320B#1990-266#2164#5

<p>D. Among your belongings which we have collected as evidence (exhibit no 1) is a bank statement issued by Union de Banques Suisses that shows a deposit of 30,000 francs. What can you tell us about this sum?<br />
R. These 30,000 francs had been transferred from my account in Geneva to my account in Bern – both accounts are in Union des Banques Suisses. This money was allocated to the purchase of passports.</p>
<p>D. In an envelope with the address of the Spanish consulate in Geneva (exhibit no 2) we have found a Polish passport issued for Aleksander SILBERSCHEIN, another issued for WINAWER (damaged), and a photocopy of a third Polish passport issued in your name. Please explain the purpose of these three documents.<br />
R. The first passport used to belong to my brother and his wife, who died in a concentration camp in Croatia. Mr. and Mrs. WINAWER is a couple of escapees, who were passing through Geneva in 1941. They later emigrated to North America. They left their passport with me, because they no longer needed it. I did not provide them with a new document. As for my passport, I had procured its copy prior to a planned departure to Lisbon (Portugal), in order to simplify the visa procedure. These three documents ended up in the envelope with the address of the Spanish consulate randomly.<br />
D. We have also found a letter addressed to you, written in Yiddish, by Ch. J. EISS, residing on Muellerstrasse 69 in Zurich (exhibit no. 3). What is your relationship with this man?<br />
R. As I have already described, we are acquaintances. He is engaged in the activities of “Agudas Israel” in Switzerland. I contacted him with regards to the passports. He had received some funds for passport trade from Palestine and America. I often met him in the Polish legation in Bern. He works independently, has contacts in some consulates, personally copies and sends out the documents, etc. We had worked together on a number of occasions.<br />
[handwritten signature:] Silberschein</p>
<p>Testimony of Abraham Silberschein<br />
<small>Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E4320B#1990-266#2164#5</small></p>

D. Among your belongings which we have collected as evidence (exhibit no 1) is a bank statement issued by Union de Banques Suisses that shows a deposit of 30,000 francs. What can you tell us about this sum?
R. These 30,000 francs had been transferred from my account in Geneva to my account in Bern – both accounts are in Union des Banques Suisses. This money was allocated to the purchase of passports.

D. In an envelope with the address of the Spanish consulate in Geneva (exhibit no 2) we have found a Polish passport issued for Aleksander SILBERSCHEIN, another issued for WINAWER (damaged), and a photocopy of a third Polish passport issued in your name. Please explain the purpose of these three documents.
R. The first passport used to belong to my brother and his wife, who died in a concentration camp in Croatia. Mr. and Mrs. WINAWER is a couple of escapees, who were passing through Geneva in 1941. They later emigrated to North America. They left their passport with me, because they no longer needed it. I did not provide them with a new document. As for my passport, I had procured its copy prior to a planned departure to Lisbon (Portugal), in order to simplify the visa procedure. These three documents ended up in the envelope with the address of the Spanish consulate randomly.
D. We have also found a letter addressed to you, written in Yiddish, by Ch. J. EISS, residing on Muellerstrasse 69 in Zurich (exhibit no. 3). What is your relationship with this man?
R. As I have already described, we are acquaintances. He is engaged in the activities of “Agudas Israel” in Switzerland. I contacted him with regards to the passports. He had received some funds for passport trade from Palestine and America. I often met him in the Polish legation in Bern. He works independently, has contacts in some consulates, personally copies and sends out the documents, etc. We had worked together on a number of occasions.
[handwritten signature:] Silberschein

Testimony of Abraham Silberschein
Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E4320B#1990-266#2164#5

<p>D. Not unlike other consuls, you use the following phrase: “Hiermit beehre ich mich Ihnen mitzuteilen, dass auf Grund der Bemuehungen Ihrer Verwandten, sowohol Sie als Ihre Familie die Staatszugenhoerigkeit von… (Paraguay, etc.) erlangt haben.” (I hereby have the honor to inform you that your efforts to obtain … (Paraguayan etc.) nationality for you and your relatives have been successful). Would you agree that these efforts were aimed at obtaining a passport of a given state, rather than obtaining nationality?<br />
R. Yes.<br />
D. Is there anything you would like to add?<br />
R. No.</p>
<p>Having read the report, I confirm the accuracy of my statement with a signature<br />
[handwritten signature:] SILBERSCHEIN</p>
<p>The account was collected by Inspector MORETTI.</p>
<p>Testimony of Abraham Silberschein<br />
<small>Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E4320B#1990-266#2164#5</small></p>

D. Not unlike other consuls, you use the following phrase: “Hiermit beehre ich mich Ihnen mitzuteilen, dass auf Grund der Bemuehungen Ihrer Verwandten, sowohol Sie als Ihre Familie die Staatszugenhoerigkeit von… (Paraguay, etc.) erlangt haben.” (I hereby have the honor to inform you that your efforts to obtain … (Paraguayan etc.) nationality for you and your relatives have been successful). Would you agree that these efforts were aimed at obtaining a passport of a given state, rather than obtaining nationality?
R. Yes.
D. Is there anything you would like to add?
R. No.

Having read the report, I confirm the accuracy of my statement with a signature
[handwritten signature:] SILBERSCHEIN

The account was collected by Inspector MORETTI.

Testimony of Abraham Silberschein
Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E4320B#1990-266#2164#5

<p>Mr. [surname?]<br />
I endorse the idea of proposing to C.F. to withdraw the exequatur of Mr. Hügli, this because of the conviction that, unlike the rest of those mentioned in the note, Mr. Hügli was not guided solely by humanitarian reasons, but – at least to a significant degree – was motivated by profit (vide the amounts transferred).<br />
Kühl should leave the Polish legation, as he is barely tolerated by us.<br />
It seems that Mr. Rokicki received a warning (from Mr. Ryniewicz). What do you think?<br />
11.8.43 [illegible initials]</p>
<p>Protocol from the questioning of the Honorary Consul of Paraguay, recorded during an investigation against him<br />
<small>Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E2001E#1000-1571#657#27</small></p>

Mr. [surname?]
I endorse the idea of proposing to C.F. to withdraw the exequatur of Mr. Hügli, this because of the conviction that, unlike the rest of those mentioned in the note, Mr. Hügli was not guided solely by humanitarian reasons, but – at least to a significant degree – was motivated by profit (vide the amounts transferred).
Kühl should leave the Polish legation, as he is barely tolerated by us.
It seems that Mr. Rokicki received a warning (from Mr. Ryniewicz). What do you think?
11.8.43 [illegible initials]

Protocol from the questioning of the Honorary Consul of Paraguay, recorded during an investigation against him
Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E2001E#1000-1571#657#27

<p>/top right – illegible handwritten note/<br />
B. 23.22.Parag. –OV.<br />
/illegible handwritten note/<br />
NOTE<br />
in the case regarding<br />
Hügli Rudolf, from Bern, born 13 June 1872,<br />
husband of Fanny Hossmann, notary, Helvetiastrasse 5, Bern.<br />
_____________<br />
This individual was the vice-consul for Paraguay since 1913. He was summoned to Verweser in 1926 and was appointed the Consul of Paraguay in Bern following the resolution of the Bundesrat on 16 March 1931. His consular region includes the cantons of Bern, Lucerne, Schwyz, Glarus, Zu Uri, Unterwalden, Solura and Ticino.</p>
<p>I. Current status.<br />
___________</p>
<p>A. Illegal issuance of visas.</p>
<p>Hügli testified before the examining magistrate on 22 February 1939 as follows:<br />
“When the second persecution of Jews began in Germany in 1938, my office was stormed by Jews hoping that they would be able to transport their relatives who were interned at concentration camps in Germany to Switzerland by means of a Paraguayan visa. I was unable to control the influx of Jews issuing these requests and so I came to an agreement with Jewish lawyers in the city of Bern that they investigate the matter and then discuss it before passing the case on to me.”<br />
This is confirmed by the statement of Willy Hirschel, born 4 June 1900, from Tramelan-dessus, an intercessor in Bern who added, among other things, the following:<br />
“The amount of refugees and persecuted individuals coming to Consul Hügli eventually took on such dimensions that it threatened to overwhelm him. At his request, we came to an agreement according to which I would perform the initial work and verify all the cases where visas were issued. I often had to do with those people as a consequence. </p>
<p><small>Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E2001E#1000-1571#657#27</small></p>

/top right – illegible handwritten note/
B. 23.22.Parag. –OV.
/illegible handwritten note/
NOTE
in the case regarding
Hügli Rudolf, from Bern, born 13 June 1872,
husband of Fanny Hossmann, notary, Helvetiastrasse 5, Bern.
_____________
This individual was the vice-consul for Paraguay since 1913. He was summoned to Verweser in 1926 and was appointed the Consul of Paraguay in Bern following the resolution of the Bundesrat on 16 March 1931. His consular region includes the cantons of Bern, Lucerne, Schwyz, Glarus, Zu Uri, Unterwalden, Solura and Ticino.

I. Current status.
___________

A. Illegal issuance of visas.

Hügli testified before the examining magistrate on 22 February 1939 as follows:
“When the second persecution of Jews began in Germany in 1938, my office was stormed by Jews hoping that they would be able to transport their relatives who were interned at concentration camps in Germany to Switzerland by means of a Paraguayan visa. I was unable to control the influx of Jews issuing these requests and so I came to an agreement with Jewish lawyers in the city of Bern that they investigate the matter and then discuss it before passing the case on to me.”
This is confirmed by the statement of Willy Hirschel, born 4 June 1900, from Tramelan-dessus, an intercessor in Bern who added, among other things, the following:
“The amount of refugees and persecuted individuals coming to Consul Hügli eventually took on such dimensions that it threatened to overwhelm him. At his request, we came to an agreement according to which I would perform the initial work and verify all the cases where visas were issued. I often had to do with those people as a consequence.

Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E2001E#1000-1571#657#27

<p>Hügli also appointed other Jewish lawyers except me.”<br />
The other lawyers in question are specifically: Boris Lifschitz, Georges Brunschvig, both resident in Bern.<br />
The fact that the visas were not issued legally by Hügli is evident in what Hügli himself told the examining magistrate on 14 January 1943:<br />
“I know that the immigration of Jews to Paraguay has been banned since more or less the beginning of the war. I also know that, earlier, those over 60 years of age were not allowed to enter. I am also aware that permission must be granted by the government in Asunción prior to the issuance of passports or visas.”<br />
Hügli also confirmed this knowledge of his transgression on 15 January before the 2nd investigating magistrate, saying:<br />
“I performed my office properly as an honorary consul until the beginning of the persecution of Jews in Germany. In my opinion, the persecution of Jews began before the war, probably in 1936. From that time on, I was usually visited by lawyers of politically persecuted Jews in Germany and was even besieged and requested to issue Paraguayan visas for their clients. At first, I tried to avoid this in such a way that I hid myself from these people. I even went away many times in order to have some peace from them. Ultimately, however, I was persuaded to issue visas to Paraguay. At the same time, I was of the opinion that my conduct was legally permissive; it was just improper for the Paraguayan government. The lawyers also dispelled any doubts I had as to the legality of my actions.”<br />
In a memorandum submitted to the office of the 2nd investigating magistrate on 10 April 1943, Hügli partially refutes these statements, claiming:<br />
“My government has never granted me any restrictive orders in any way. I have never received a relevant list of my duties or anything of the sort, and that is why </p>
<p><small>Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E2001E#1000-1571#657#27</small></p>

Hügli also appointed other Jewish lawyers except me.”
The other lawyers in question are specifically: Boris Lifschitz, Georges Brunschvig, both resident in Bern.
The fact that the visas were not issued legally by Hügli is evident in what Hügli himself told the examining magistrate on 14 January 1943:
“I know that the immigration of Jews to Paraguay has been banned since more or less the beginning of the war. I also know that, earlier, those over 60 years of age were not allowed to enter. I am also aware that permission must be granted by the government in Asunción prior to the issuance of passports or visas.”
Hügli also confirmed this knowledge of his transgression on 15 January before the 2nd investigating magistrate, saying:
“I performed my office properly as an honorary consul until the beginning of the persecution of Jews in Germany. In my opinion, the persecution of Jews began before the war, probably in 1936. From that time on, I was usually visited by lawyers of politically persecuted Jews in Germany and was even besieged and requested to issue Paraguayan visas for their clients. At first, I tried to avoid this in such a way that I hid myself from these people. I even went away many times in order to have some peace from them. Ultimately, however, I was persuaded to issue visas to Paraguay. At the same time, I was of the opinion that my conduct was legally permissive; it was just improper for the Paraguayan government. The lawyers also dispelled any doubts I had as to the legality of my actions.”
In a memorandum submitted to the office of the 2nd investigating magistrate on 10 April 1943, Hügli partially refutes these statements, claiming:
“My government has never granted me any restrictive orders in any way. I have never received a relevant list of my duties or anything of the sort, and that is why

Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E2001E#1000-1571#657#27

<p>I was generally subject to the universal principles of the law of nations and, according to my deep conviction, I am entitled to issue passports and issue visas to anyone.”<br />
There is nothing precise from the submitted files as regards the number of visas issued without authorization. However, the data from Hügli and the lawyers mentioned above who consistently emphasize the pressure from their clients permits an assumption that these cases amounted to several hundreds.</p>
<p>B. Unauthorized issuance of passports</p>
<p>On 18 January 1943, the accused Kühl Julius [sic throughout], born 24 June 1913, a Polish citizen, official of the Passport Department of the Polish legation in Bern (without a blue card), told the investigating magistrate the following:<br />
“The question of how we could obtain foreign passports for Polish citizens was posed for the first time after the occupation of Poland by Germany and Russia at the end of 1939 and at the beginning of 1940. The main issue was to extract certain people for whom we feared from the parts of Poland under Russian occupation. This was made possible by Consul Hügli’s issuing of Paraguayan passports to these people. Passport forms were collected from Hügli, then issued by Consul Rokicki, and then again brought back to Consul Hügli for his signature. We paid Hügli between 500 and 2,000 francs to issue a passport depending on the case and the number of people. After Poland was completely occupied by Germany, the same question was asked in the context of saving some Polish citizens from German concentration camps or from death. In the same way, we allowed Paraguayan passports to be issued to other Polish citizens.”<br />
Hügli confesses the issuance of Paraguayan passports to Polish citizens and also confirms the methods / proceedings mentioned by Kühl, noting on 14 January 1943 to the 2nd investigating magistrate:</p>
<p><small>Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E2001E#1000-1571#657#27</small></p>

I was generally subject to the universal principles of the law of nations and, according to my deep conviction, I am entitled to issue passports and issue visas to anyone.”
There is nothing precise from the submitted files as regards the number of visas issued without authorization. However, the data from Hügli and the lawyers mentioned above who consistently emphasize the pressure from their clients permits an assumption that these cases amounted to several hundreds.

B. Unauthorized issuance of passports

On 18 January 1943, the accused Kühl Julius [sic throughout], born 24 June 1913, a Polish citizen, official of the Passport Department of the Polish legation in Bern (without a blue card), told the investigating magistrate the following:
“The question of how we could obtain foreign passports for Polish citizens was posed for the first time after the occupation of Poland by Germany and Russia at the end of 1939 and at the beginning of 1940. The main issue was to extract certain people for whom we feared from the parts of Poland under Russian occupation. This was made possible by Consul Hügli’s issuing of Paraguayan passports to these people. Passport forms were collected from Hügli, then issued by Consul Rokicki, and then again brought back to Consul Hügli for his signature. We paid Hügli between 500 and 2,000 francs to issue a passport depending on the case and the number of people. After Poland was completely occupied by Germany, the same question was asked in the context of saving some Polish citizens from German concentration camps or from death. In the same way, we allowed Paraguayan passports to be issued to other Polish citizens.”
Hügli confesses the issuance of Paraguayan passports to Polish citizens and also confirms the methods / proceedings mentioned by Kühl, noting on 14 January 1943 to the 2nd investigating magistrate:

Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E2001E#1000-1571#657#27

<p>“Most cases were completed by the Polish legation, that is by an official of the Polish legation, Dr. Kühl, at Mrs. Hess’s house at 12 Sandrainstrasse, Bern. He also paid me every time. I do not know if he acted with the knowledge of the Polish legation. In any case, the first secretary Stefan J. Ryniewicz was apprised. He himself wrote out passports and presented them to me for signing and sealing. I commissioned a passport book to be made at Saurer’s Wwe, a bookbinding shop. In total, I had about 60 to 70 passports printed. I did not use tariff stamps in all of the passports, nor have I accounted for issuing these passports with the government in Asunción.”<br />
He reiterated this point on 15 January 1943:<br />
“I began the unauthorized issuance of passports around mid-1942. It was Dr. Kühl who had the idea to issue Paraguayan passports for stateless people who did not have any documents. First, I used official passport forms that were still in stock and which I received from my predecessor. Next, I ordered new passport forms to be printed. I ordered more in addition to the 60 to 70 passports already received. There are about 50 that are currently waiting to be finished at Saurer’s Wwe, bookbinding, Nägeligasse, Bern.”<br />
Generally speaking, the passport issue has always been directed by the Polish legation. In addition, there are individual cases that Hügli handled either directly or through lawyers. Among the former are four particularly important cases regarding Dutch citizens who were interned in Switzerland and wanted to travel from Switzerland to France after receiving Paraguayan passports from Consul Hügli. At the same time, the passports were not only issued to them illegally, but also to false names: “Theodorus Lusink” became Theodor Asbeck-Busse.<br />
In addition, the case </p>
<p><small>Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E2001E#1000-1571#657#27</small></p>

“Most cases were completed by the Polish legation, that is by an official of the Polish legation, Dr. Kühl, at Mrs. Hess’s house at 12 Sandrainstrasse, Bern. He also paid me every time. I do not know if he acted with the knowledge of the Polish legation. In any case, the first secretary Stefan J. Ryniewicz was apprised. He himself wrote out passports and presented them to me for signing and sealing. I commissioned a passport book to be made at Saurer’s Wwe, a bookbinding shop. In total, I had about 60 to 70 passports printed. I did not use tariff stamps in all of the passports, nor have I accounted for issuing these passports with the government in Asunción.”
He reiterated this point on 15 January 1943:
“I began the unauthorized issuance of passports around mid-1942. It was Dr. Kühl who had the idea to issue Paraguayan passports for stateless people who did not have any documents. First, I used official passport forms that were still in stock and which I received from my predecessor. Next, I ordered new passport forms to be printed. I ordered more in addition to the 60 to 70 passports already received. There are about 50 that are currently waiting to be finished at Saurer’s Wwe, bookbinding, Nägeligasse, Bern.”
Generally speaking, the passport issue has always been directed by the Polish legation. In addition, there are individual cases that Hügli handled either directly or through lawyers. Among the former are four particularly important cases regarding Dutch citizens who were interned in Switzerland and wanted to travel from Switzerland to France after receiving Paraguayan passports from Consul Hügli. At the same time, the passports were not only issued to them illegally, but also to false names: “Theodorus Lusink” became Theodor Asbeck-Busse.
In addition, the case

Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E2001E#1000-1571#657#27

<p>of Oskar Hörrle, a German citizen, is of particular concern. He illegally entered Switzerland from Germany in September 1942 and reported to the police office that he was an employee of the government counsel at the Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda and had to leave Germany because he had relations with a half-Jewish woman. In November 1942, Hügli recognized him as a citizen of Paraguay, and even wanted to hire him as the secretary of his consulate. This, however, could not have happened because the Swiss Department of Justice and Police protested and wanted to keep Hörrle in an internment camp. He disappeared on 19 May and has not been caught since.<br />
Simple confirmations of citizenship were also issued in addition to Hügli’s passports, from which it could be concluded that the Paraguayan State recognized the persons listed there as its citizens and that the relevant passport would be issued upon receipt of the necessary documents. This procedure was applied particularly when it was impossible to use photographs or if the financial requirements could not be easily met.</p>
<p>I. Legal sanctions</p>
<p>In February 1939, Hügli was summoned to answer before the 1st investigating magistrate in Bern in connection with a single case of fraud, namely to the detriment of Heinz Rosen in Zurich. However, the investigation was discontinued on 8 March due to lack of evidence of a crime.<br />
After notifying the general consul of Paraguay in Zurich, Mr. Walter Meyer, extensive proceedings were commenced in January 1943 in which the lawyers Lifschitz, Hirschel and Brunschvig, </p>
<p><small>Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E2001E#1000-1571#657#27</small></p>

of Oskar Hörrle, a German citizen, is of particular concern. He illegally entered Switzerland from Germany in September 1942 and reported to the police office that he was an employee of the government counsel at the Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda and had to leave Germany because he had relations with a half-Jewish woman. In November 1942, Hügli recognized him as a citizen of Paraguay, and even wanted to hire him as the secretary of his consulate. This, however, could not have happened because the Swiss Department of Justice and Police protested and wanted to keep Hörrle in an internment camp. He disappeared on 19 May and has not been caught since.
Simple confirmations of citizenship were also issued in addition to Hügli’s passports, from which it could be concluded that the Paraguayan State recognized the persons listed there as its citizens and that the relevant passport would be issued upon receipt of the necessary documents. This procedure was applied particularly when it was impossible to use photographs or if the financial requirements could not be easily met.

I. Legal sanctions

In February 1939, Hügli was summoned to answer before the 1st investigating magistrate in Bern in connection with a single case of fraud, namely to the detriment of Heinz Rosen in Zurich. However, the investigation was discontinued on 8 March due to lack of evidence of a crime.
After notifying the general consul of Paraguay in Zurich, Mr. Walter Meyer, extensive proceedings were commenced in January 1943 in which the lawyers Lifschitz, Hirschel and Brunschvig,

Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E2001E#1000-1571#657#27

<p>as well as the official from the Polish legation Julius Kühl, appeared as the accused alongside Hügli. Hügli’s charges concerned fraud, the falsification of documents and forging of identity cards, abuse of power and excessive fees, as well as fraud, incitement and assistance in fraud and abuse of power, and forgery of documents for the other defendants.<br />
This case was also discontinued due to lack of evidence of a criminal act by the decision of the 2nd investigating magistrate on 4 May 1943.<br />
It is not for the Police Department to explain whether the discontinuation of either case is justified. Be that as it may, one could point to the case of the former Austrian general consul in St. Gallen, Dr. Otto Rohner. In a letter dated 21 October 1938 from the Police Department to the Werdenberg District Office, he presented the view that Rohner’s issuance of Austrian passports to non-Austrian citizens was unauthorized and was therefore an offense under Art. 23, paragraph 1, first sentence of the Federal Law on the residence and settlement of foreigners dated 23 March 1931 (file no. Police Department: B. 1120.Y). The penal provision related to this reads:<br />
“Whosoever creates false or falsifies authentic police documentation of identity, or whosoever consciously makes use of such documentation or transfers it to a third party, shall be sentenced to six months in prison. This sentence may also include a monetary fine of up to 10,000 francs; lighter offences may only be punishable with a monetary fine.”<br />
Even if it were to be assumed that this article could not be applied as the false identity documents were used only outside the territory of the Swiss state, Hügli’s case also includes a number of instances in which the beneficiary either remained in or entered Switzerland.</p>
<p><small>Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E2001E#1000-1571#657#27</small></p>

as well as the official from the Polish legation Julius Kühl, appeared as the accused alongside Hügli. Hügli’s charges concerned fraud, the falsification of documents and forging of identity cards, abuse of power and excessive fees, as well as fraud, incitement and assistance in fraud and abuse of power, and forgery of documents for the other defendants.
This case was also discontinued due to lack of evidence of a criminal act by the decision of the 2nd investigating magistrate on 4 May 1943.
It is not for the Police Department to explain whether the discontinuation of either case is justified. Be that as it may, one could point to the case of the former Austrian general consul in St. Gallen, Dr. Otto Rohner. In a letter dated 21 October 1938 from the Police Department to the Werdenberg District Office, he presented the view that Rohner’s issuance of Austrian passports to non-Austrian citizens was unauthorized and was therefore an offense under Art. 23, paragraph 1, first sentence of the Federal Law on the residence and settlement of foreigners dated 23 March 1931 (file no. Police Department: B. 1120.Y). The penal provision related to this reads:
“Whosoever creates false or falsifies authentic police documentation of identity, or whosoever consciously makes use of such documentation or transfers it to a third party, shall be sentenced to six months in prison. This sentence may also include a monetary fine of up to 10,000 francs; lighter offences may only be punishable with a monetary fine.”
Even if it were to be assumed that this article could not be applied as the false identity documents were used only outside the territory of the Swiss state, Hügli’s case also includes a number of instances in which the beneficiary either remained in or entered Switzerland.

Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E2001E#1000-1571#657#27

<p>Regarding sanctions against Rohner, the cantonal court of St. Gallen convicted him for the repeated execution of formally correct but factually incorrect documents. In my opinion, the Police Department should point out these contradictions.</p>
<p>I. Political consequences of the transgressions</p>
<p>Even if there exists a view that Hügli did not violate the applicable Swiss laws, it is necessary to check whether steps must be taken against him for other reasons.<br />
In addition, his transgressions could include the unauthorized issuing of visas and the unauthorized issuing of passports as well as verification of their legal consequences.</p>
<p>A. Visa issuance</p>
<p>According to Hügli himself, the purpose of issuing visas was: “so that the affected people could leave Germany using a visa. If they were in France or Switzerland, they could travel from these places to anywhere” (report of the hearing of 15 January 1943). He further expanded this viewpoint in his memorandum of 10 April, stating:<br />
“I further declare that the purpose of issuing visas was never so that people could actually be permitted or able to travel to Paraguay; the idea was to give poor people the opportunity to receive a so-called ‘partial visa’, particularly to France, Spain and Portugal. Most of the clients to whom I issued such visas were later stuck in still-independent France or Portugal. As far as those who entered Switzerland are concerned, these were exclusively elements that had a great many resources and who could pay a deposit to the Confederation that amounted to tens of thousands of francs.”</p>
<p><small>Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E2001E#1000-1571#657#27</small></p>

Regarding sanctions against Rohner, the cantonal court of St. Gallen convicted him for the repeated execution of formally correct but factually incorrect documents. In my opinion, the Police Department should point out these contradictions.

I. Political consequences of the transgressions

Even if there exists a view that Hügli did not violate the applicable Swiss laws, it is necessary to check whether steps must be taken against him for other reasons.
In addition, his transgressions could include the unauthorized issuing of visas and the unauthorized issuing of passports as well as verification of their legal consequences.

A. Visa issuance

According to Hügli himself, the purpose of issuing visas was: “so that the affected people could leave Germany using a visa. If they were in France or Switzerland, they could travel from these places to anywhere” (report of the hearing of 15 January 1943). He further expanded this viewpoint in his memorandum of 10 April, stating:
“I further declare that the purpose of issuing visas was never so that people could actually be permitted or able to travel to Paraguay; the idea was to give poor people the opportunity to receive a so-called ‘partial visa’, particularly to France, Spain and Portugal. Most of the clients to whom I issued such visas were later stuck in still-independent France or Portugal. As far as those who entered Switzerland are concerned, these were exclusively elements that had a great many resources and who could pay a deposit to the Confederation that amounted to tens of thousands of francs.”

Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E2001E#1000-1571#657#27

<p>This is also confirmed by the statements of the various lawyers:<br />
Lifschitz: “People only needed visas at the time to leave Germany or a German concentration camp.”</p>
<p>(report of the hearing of 18 January 1943)</p>
<p>Hirschel: “Initially, people still had the opportunity to travel to their respective countries based on the visas. Few managed to actually do so, however. There were sporadic cases of individuals who traveled to the countries in question, but for the most part they were only meant to leave Germany or at least protect themselves from being taken prisoner.”</p>
<p>(report of the hearing of 18 January 1943)</p>
<p>Brunschvig: “In fact, the visa applicants did not intend to go to Paraguay at all, but wanted or hoped to protect themselves or be released from a concentration camp in Germany with the help of the visa.”</p>
<p>B. Passport issuance</p>
<p>The significance of issuing passports is indicated in particular in the statement of Julius Kühl, which he presented to the 2nd investigating magistrate on 18 January 1943:<br />
“The bearers could use these passports to leave Russian-occupied Poland for Kobe on the Russian-Japanese border, where the Polish consulate issued them Polish passports with which they could travel further.”<br />
After the occupation of Poland, these people could no longer follow this path. Kühl adds:<br />
“However, they were not transported to concentration camps, deported or murdered, but interned in a so-called civilian internment camp called an ‘Ilag’.”<br />
Hügli described this in his memorandum:<br />
“By issuing South or Central American passports, these poor, innocent victims of war were given the opportunity to reach a so-called foreigners’ camp, which was used for the exchange of German prisoners in America.”</p>
<p><small>Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E2001E#1000-1571#657#27</small></p>

This is also confirmed by the statements of the various lawyers:
Lifschitz: “People only needed visas at the time to leave Germany or a German concentration camp.”

(report of the hearing of 18 January 1943)

Hirschel: “Initially, people still had the opportunity to travel to their respective countries based on the visas. Few managed to actually do so, however. There were sporadic cases of individuals who traveled to the countries in question, but for the most part they were only meant to leave Germany or at least protect themselves from being taken prisoner.”

(report of the hearing of 18 January 1943)

Brunschvig: “In fact, the visa applicants did not intend to go to Paraguay at all, but wanted or hoped to protect themselves or be released from a concentration camp in Germany with the help of the visa.”

B. Passport issuance

The significance of issuing passports is indicated in particular in the statement of Julius Kühl, which he presented to the 2nd investigating magistrate on 18 January 1943:
“The bearers could use these passports to leave Russian-occupied Poland for Kobe on the Russian-Japanese border, where the Polish consulate issued them Polish passports with which they could travel further.”
After the occupation of Poland, these people could no longer follow this path. Kühl adds:
“However, they were not transported to concentration camps, deported or murdered, but interned in a so-called civilian internment camp called an ‘Ilag’.”
Hügli described this in his memorandum:
“By issuing South or Central American passports, these poor, innocent victims of war were given the opportunity to reach a so-called foreigners’ camp, which was used for the exchange of German prisoners in America.”

Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E2001E#1000-1571#657#27

<p>Finally, Hügli summed up the purpose of his actions in a simple explanation:<br />
“I repeat that all passport and visa recipients were aware of their purpose; they were to be used only to deceive the German authorities.”<br />
Now, one may ask the question whether this attitude of a foreign consul in our country is acceptable. Although no complaints were lodged on the German side, it could be rightly assumed that they had been informed of the issue. The American legation, on the other hand, repeatedly raised the matter with both the Police Department and the Police Division. Apparently, the United States is not convinced that the passports issued by Mr. Hügli remained in the possession of Jewish refugees, but fears that hostile countries might obtain passports from South American countries to send to their agents engaged in espionage. The case of Hörrle could be a clue in this direction. According to the Americans, Hügli’s illegal actions might cause him to provide – knowingly or unknowingly – agents of the Axis powers with identity documents that could enable them to travel overseas and develop illegal operations there.<br />
Whether these fears are really justified or whether Hügli’s actions really aimed solely to deceive the German and Russian authorities may be irrelevant. In any event, a complaint could be brought against Switzerland if it did not now apply sanctions. This is necessary due to the fact that Hügli boasts that his actions are approved by the Swiss authorities.</p>
<p><small>Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E2001E#1000-1571#657#27</small></p>

Finally, Hügli summed up the purpose of his actions in a simple explanation:
“I repeat that all passport and visa recipients were aware of their purpose; they were to be used only to deceive the German authorities.”
Now, one may ask the question whether this attitude of a foreign consul in our country is acceptable. Although no complaints were lodged on the German side, it could be rightly assumed that they had been informed of the issue. The American legation, on the other hand, repeatedly raised the matter with both the Police Department and the Police Division. Apparently, the United States is not convinced that the passports issued by Mr. Hügli remained in the possession of Jewish refugees, but fears that hostile countries might obtain passports from South American countries to send to their agents engaged in espionage. The case of Hörrle could be a clue in this direction. According to the Americans, Hügli’s illegal actions might cause him to provide – knowingly or unknowingly – agents of the Axis powers with identity documents that could enable them to travel overseas and develop illegal operations there.
Whether these fears are really justified or whether Hügli’s actions really aimed solely to deceive the German and Russian authorities may be irrelevant. In any event, a complaint could be brought against Switzerland if it did not now apply sanctions. This is necessary due to the fact that Hügli boasts that his actions are approved by the Swiss authorities.

Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E2001E#1000-1571#657#27

<p>In his memorandum of 10 April, he states that Consul General Meyer’s diplomatic speech at the Police Department did not bring about any success. The Swiss authorities will know exactly why they adopted this attitude. To understand this, one must look at the overall political situation. Hügli then presents the persecution of Jews in reference to this. In the same memorandum, he also explains:<br />
“It also follows from these documents that the denunciation made by the same Mr. Meyer to Dr. Stucki, the head of protocol and head of the Consular Department, not only did not succeed, but not once deigned to respond, and therefore, after many months and numerous complaints, Mr. Meyer had to order the return of his documents from the Political Department to carry out another attack at the directorate of the judiciary of the canton of Bern.”<br />
Apart from the political significance of Hügli’s actions, they also affect the countermeasures of our own Fremdenpolizei [Police for foreigners] with regard to foreigners. The Confederation’s Judiciary and Police Department explains in its letter dated 21 July 1943:<br />
“We always have a vested interest when a foreigner applying for Paraguayan citizenship asks for a Swiss entry visa. In the case of German citizen Hans Con, mentioned in the report under IV/3 dated 1 June 1943, he was granted entry to Switzerland on the basis of a Paraguay visa, which, with the knowledge of the true state of affairs, could not have been an accident. Furthermore, in the case of Kleestadt mentioned in the same report under IV/4, a request for an entry visa into Lichtenstein was requested on the basis of a Paraguayan passport. We must defend ourselves vigorously against foreign consuls in Switzerland allowing foreigners to transfer their identity documents abroad and thereby concealing actual citizenship and misleading Swiss authorities to allow passport holders to enter our country.</p>
<p><small>Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E2001E#1000-1571#657#27</small></p>

In his memorandum of 10 April, he states that Consul General Meyer’s diplomatic speech at the Police Department did not bring about any success. The Swiss authorities will know exactly why they adopted this attitude. To understand this, one must look at the overall political situation. Hügli then presents the persecution of Jews in reference to this. In the same memorandum, he also explains:
“It also follows from these documents that the denunciation made by the same Mr. Meyer to Dr. Stucki, the head of protocol and head of the Consular Department, not only did not succeed, but not once deigned to respond, and therefore, after many months and numerous complaints, Mr. Meyer had to order the return of his documents from the Political Department to carry out another attack at the directorate of the judiciary of the canton of Bern.”
Apart from the political significance of Hügli’s actions, they also affect the countermeasures of our own Fremdenpolizei [Police for foreigners] with regard to foreigners. The Confederation’s Judiciary and Police Department explains in its letter dated 21 July 1943:
“We always have a vested interest when a foreigner applying for Paraguayan citizenship asks for a Swiss entry visa. In the case of German citizen Hans Con, mentioned in the report under IV/3 dated 1 June 1943, he was granted entry to Switzerland on the basis of a Paraguay visa, which, with the knowledge of the true state of affairs, could not have been an accident. Furthermore, in the case of Kleestadt mentioned in the same report under IV/4, a request for an entry visa into Lichtenstein was requested on the basis of a Paraguayan passport. We must defend ourselves vigorously against foreign consuls in Switzerland allowing foreigners to transfer their identity documents abroad and thereby concealing actual citizenship and misleading Swiss authorities to allow passport holders to enter our country.

Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E2001E#1000-1571#657#27

IV. Applicable sanctions

The Federal Department of the Judiciary and Police requests verification whether the removal of the notary Hügli as consul of Paraguay should or could be made possible.
There can be no doubts that the individual concerned is no longer able to exercise his office. His withdrawal into private life would have to be checked, however.
a) withdrawal of recognition as consul by the Bundesrat. Hügli’s transgressions, which, on the one hand, threatened the actions of our own Fremdenpolizei with regard to foreigners, and, on the other hand, could cause difficulties in foreign policy, are enough to submit an application for withdrawal of recognition as a consul to the Bundesrat. However, no such case was presented in the available literature;
b) we could also take steps via our mission in Buenos Aires in the Asunción government, with a request to deprive Mr Hügli of his function as Paraguayan consul. This would probably be more kind to the Republic of Paraguay, but it would take a longer time for Hügli to be suspended;
c) ultimately, it could also be left to the United States and North America to intervene at Asunción. As far as we are informed, the American mission is going to reach out to Washington in this matter.
/left margin – handwritten note in French: that is my opinion!/ Given that the case of Hügli is not the only one of its kind and that there is a pressing interest for Switzerland to cleanse the corps of its honorary consuls, priority should be given to the suspension of the consul by the Bundesrat.

4 August 1943

Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E2001E#1000-1571#657#27

<p>ATTACHMENT<br />
Responsibility of individual officials of the Polish legation in the case of Hügli’s falsified passports<br />
__________________</p>
<p>The report signed by Federal Councillor von Steiger on 21 July 1943 explains the following:<br />
“According to the submitted files, the brokering of falsified citizenship certificates to Polish Jews in German-occupied territories included the close cooperation of Messrs Konstanty Rokicki, vice consul at the Polish legation in Bern, and Dr. Julius Kühl, currently also an official of that legation. Mr Rokicki is the holder of a blue card issued by you. Dr. Kühl held the position of a tolerated guest, who was assigned a date of departure in order “to prepare for leaving” and was prohibited from taking on any form of paid work when he was employed as an assistant in the consular service by the Polish legation in Bern in March 1940. We permit ourselves to request that you check whether you have reprimanded Mr Rokicki in an appropriate manner and whether the expulsion of Dr. Kühl from the Polish mission is still required.<br />
The statement of Kühl Julius during his interrogation before the 2nd investigating magistrate on 18 January 1943 provides fairly accurate information. He said:<br />
“I note that in this case I did not act at all of my own free will, but only on the instructions of my superior Consul Rokicki and legal advisor Ryniewicz. The question of how we could obtain foreign passports for Polish citizens was posed for the first time after the occupation of Poland by Germany and Russia at the end of 1939 and at the beginning of 1940. The main issue was to extract certain people for whom we feared from the parts of Poland under Russian occupation. This was possible as Consul Hügli issued Paraguayan passports to these people. Passport forms were collected from Hügli, then issued by Consul Rokicki, and then again brought back to </p>
<p><small>Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E2001E#1000-1571#657#27</small></p>

ATTACHMENT
Responsibility of individual officials of the Polish legation in the case of Hügli’s falsified passports
__________________

The report signed by Federal Councillor von Steiger on 21 July 1943 explains the following:
“According to the submitted files, the brokering of falsified citizenship certificates to Polish Jews in German-occupied territories included the close cooperation of Messrs Konstanty Rokicki, vice consul at the Polish legation in Bern, and Dr. Julius Kühl, currently also an official of that legation. Mr Rokicki is the holder of a blue card issued by you. Dr. Kühl held the position of a tolerated guest, who was assigned a date of departure in order “to prepare for leaving” and was prohibited from taking on any form of paid work when he was employed as an assistant in the consular service by the Polish legation in Bern in March 1940. We permit ourselves to request that you check whether you have reprimanded Mr Rokicki in an appropriate manner and whether the expulsion of Dr. Kühl from the Polish mission is still required.
The statement of Kühl Julius during his interrogation before the 2nd investigating magistrate on 18 January 1943 provides fairly accurate information. He said:
“I note that in this case I did not act at all of my own free will, but only on the instructions of my superior Consul Rokicki and legal advisor Ryniewicz. The question of how we could obtain foreign passports for Polish citizens was posed for the first time after the occupation of Poland by Germany and Russia at the end of 1939 and at the beginning of 1940. The main issue was to extract certain people for whom we feared from the parts of Poland under Russian occupation. This was possible as Consul Hügli issued Paraguayan passports to these people. Passport forms were collected from Hügli, then issued by Consul Rokicki, and then again brought back to

Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E2001E#1000-1571#657#27

<p>Consul Hügli for his signature. I usually handled this last case.<br />
“We paid Hügli from around 500 to 2,000 francs to issue a passport depending on the case and the number of people. Neither the legation, the consulate nor I myself personally benefited from this transaction. The bearers could use these passports to leave Russian-occupied Poland for Kobe on the Russian-Japanese border, where the Polish consulate issued them Polish passports with which they could travel further. After Poland was completely occupied by Germany, the same question was asked in the context of saving some Polish citizens from German concentration camps or from death. In the same way, we allowed Paraguayan passports to be issued to other Polish citizens. These were not transported to concentration camps, deported or murdered, but interned in a so-called civilian internment camp called an ‘Ilag’. Throughout this period, around 20 to 30 Paraguayan passports were issued in this way for individual Poles and Polish families. In most cases, the issuing of passports by Consul Hügli was financed by the local legation itself, particularly in cases where the mission wanted to save certain persons at its own initiative.<br />
“The Polish mission was stormed by hundreds of requests for Paraguayan passports but it could not fulfil all these demands because issuing Paraguayan passports too extensively would have incurred the risk of being discovered by the German authorities.”<br />
The fact that Hügli was influenced by these gentlemen in his proceedings results from his statements and is also detailed on page 65 of the memorandum dated 10 April 1943 in which he notes:<br />
“I was especially reliant on the intelligence that the Polish mission provided to me on behalf of the Polish government, especially from Mr. Ryniewicz, the legal advisor. All the more so when Poland allied with Paraguay. It also happened that the Jewish lawyers practicing in Bern, whose best qualities I saw during my activity as a public notary, informed me and used the Polish mission as their cover.”</p>
<p><small>Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E2001E#1000-1571#657#27</small></p>

Consul Hügli for his signature. I usually handled this last case.
“We paid Hügli from around 500 to 2,000 francs to issue a passport depending on the case and the number of people. Neither the legation, the consulate nor I myself personally benefited from this transaction. The bearers could use these passports to leave Russian-occupied Poland for Kobe on the Russian-Japanese border, where the Polish consulate issued them Polish passports with which they could travel further. After Poland was completely occupied by Germany, the same question was asked in the context of saving some Polish citizens from German concentration camps or from death. In the same way, we allowed Paraguayan passports to be issued to other Polish citizens. These were not transported to concentration camps, deported or murdered, but interned in a so-called civilian internment camp called an ‘Ilag’. Throughout this period, around 20 to 30 Paraguayan passports were issued in this way for individual Poles and Polish families. In most cases, the issuing of passports by Consul Hügli was financed by the local legation itself, particularly in cases where the mission wanted to save certain persons at its own initiative.
“The Polish mission was stormed by hundreds of requests for Paraguayan passports but it could not fulfil all these demands because issuing Paraguayan passports too extensively would have incurred the risk of being discovered by the German authorities.”
The fact that Hügli was influenced by these gentlemen in his proceedings results from his statements and is also detailed on page 65 of the memorandum dated 10 April 1943 in which he notes:
“I was especially reliant on the intelligence that the Polish mission provided to me on behalf of the Polish government, especially from Mr. Ryniewicz, the legal advisor. All the more so when Poland allied with Paraguay. It also happened that the Jewish lawyers practicing in Bern, whose best qualities I saw during my activity as a public notary, informed me and used the Polish mission as their cover.”

Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E2001E#1000-1571#657#27

<p>The statement of Mr. Hügli dated 15 January 1943 is also significant:<br />
“Even today I remain convinced that I am not committing anything criminal … I discussed this issue with Dr. Kühl and Ryniewicz, and I expressed some doubts, which, however, were recently dispelled by both gentlemen who pointed out that the aim of the operation was not to cheat or deceive anyone.”<br />
As Kühl speaks about certain people for whom the legation feared, it might be interesting to learn from which standpoint this choice was made. In any case, both reports of the Swiss Federal Bar Association of 11 and 13 May provide only partial details. Weingort Saul, born 22 December 1914 in Biała, Poland, Polish citizen, rabbi, was questioned in Montreux on 11 May. He admitted that he had arranged Paraguayan passports for Jews interned in Poland via the Polish mission. He only specified the requests in which he was sure they concerned one of his relations. These are:<br />
Weingort Abraham, his wife and daughter Rosl;<br />
Rosenblum Bochnia, his wife and child;<br />
Berglas Chaim Leib and his wife;<br />
Fränkel Josef, his wife and children;<br />
Rapaport Regina and children;<br />
Rapaport Jakob and children;<br />
Rapaport Schapse, his wife and children;<br />
Rapaport Szymon Simche, his wife and children;<br />
Weingort Mendel, his wife and children;<br />
Wolf Samuel and family.</p>
<p><small>Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E2001E#1000-1571#657#27</small></p>

The statement of Mr. Hügli dated 15 January 1943 is also significant:
“Even today I remain convinced that I am not committing anything criminal … I discussed this issue with Dr. Kühl and Ryniewicz, and I expressed some doubts, which, however, were recently dispelled by both gentlemen who pointed out that the aim of the operation was not to cheat or deceive anyone.”
As Kühl speaks about certain people for whom the legation feared, it might be interesting to learn from which standpoint this choice was made. In any case, both reports of the Swiss Federal Bar Association of 11 and 13 May provide only partial details. Weingort Saul, born 22 December 1914 in Biała, Poland, Polish citizen, rabbi, was questioned in Montreux on 11 May. He admitted that he had arranged Paraguayan passports for Jews interned in Poland via the Polish mission. He only specified the requests in which he was sure they concerned one of his relations. These are:
Weingort Abraham, his wife and daughter Rosl;
Rosenblum Bochnia, his wife and child;
Berglas Chaim Leib and his wife;
Fränkel Josef, his wife and children;
Rapaport Regina and children;
Rapaport Jakob and children;
Rapaport Schapse, his wife and children;
Rapaport Szymon Simche, his wife and children;
Weingort Mendel, his wife and children;
Wolf Samuel and family.

Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E2001E#1000-1571#657#27

<p>In addition to the passports, Weingort also arranged letters from the consul of Paraguay through the Polish legation which showed that the persons named therein were recognized as residents of Paraguay. Weingort mentions the following cases:<br />
Rapaport Aron and Jakob;<br />
Klein Martha and child;<br />
Stein Meier, his wife and child;<br />
Stein Chiel and family;<br />
Zalmanow Zalman and family;<br />
Gurarje Noson and his brothers;<br />
Türkel Schapse and family;<br />
Pilicer Lea and daughter;<br />
Prywes Henoch and family;<br />
Eybuszyo Hena and her sister;<br />
Wolf Samuel, his wife and children;<br />
Wolf Manuel;<br />
Horowitz Nuchem and family;<br />
Wildman Salomon and family;<br />
Hager Dr.;<br />
Katz Gisella and family;<br />
Markiel Schulamit;<br />
Liwer Berisch and family;<br />
Litmanowicz Moses and family.<br />
On the other hand, Eiss Israel, born 16 September 1876 in Ustrzyki, Galicia, spoke during his interrogation in Zurich on 13 May about permission for Mr Rokicki to issue four passports, for which he paid him 2,800 francs. Two were issued in the name of oberrabine Lewin and his son, while the other two are apparently passports in blanco for those who had not yet sent photos. In addition to passports, Eiss also dealt with letters </p>
<p><small>Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E2001E#1000-1571#657#27</small></p>

In addition to the passports, Weingort also arranged letters from the consul of Paraguay through the Polish legation which showed that the persons named therein were recognized as residents of Paraguay. Weingort mentions the following cases:
Rapaport Aron and Jakob;
Klein Martha and child;
Stein Meier, his wife and child;
Stein Chiel and family;
Zalmanow Zalman and family;
Gurarje Noson and his brothers;
Türkel Schapse and family;
Pilicer Lea and daughter;
Prywes Henoch and family;
Eybuszyo Hena and her sister;
Wolf Samuel, his wife and children;
Wolf Manuel;
Horowitz Nuchem and family;
Wildman Salomon and family;
Hager Dr.;
Katz Gisella and family;
Markiel Schulamit;
Liwer Berisch and family;
Litmanowicz Moses and family.
On the other hand, Eiss Israel, born 16 September 1876 in Ustrzyki, Galicia, spoke during his interrogation in Zurich on 13 May about permission for Mr Rokicki to issue four passports, for which he paid him 2,800 francs. Two were issued in the name of oberrabine Lewin and his son, while the other two are apparently passports in blanco for those who had not yet sent photos. In addition to passports, Eiss also dealt with letters

Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E2001E#1000-1571#657#27

<p>for the following people:<br />
Dawid Halberstamm, rabbi;<br />
M.B. Sokolow, writer;<br />
J. Landau, oberrabin;<br />
Mendel Lewin, oberrabin;<br />
A.M. Alter, rabbi;<br />
J.L. Frommer, chancellor of the Talmudical Academy in Lublin;<br />
J. Trockenheim, senator;<br />
N. Rabinowicz, oberrabin;<br />
Mrs Joskowicz, rabbi’s wife;<br />
L.G. Fridenson, editor;<br />
Abraham Danziger, rabbi;<br />
A.Gradus, merchant;<br />
A. Messing, merchant;<br />
Hela Bornstein, widow to a murdered oberrabin;<br />
A.M. Lewin, son of a great rabbi;<br />
M. Stockhammer, secretary of the Warsaw rabbinate;<br />
B. Morgenstern, oberrabin in Sokołów;<br />
J. Kenigsberg, director of the Talmudical Academy in Lublin;<br />
Dr Mazur, doctor;<br />
G. Sirato, main hazzan.<br />
It cannot be ascertained from the file by which means the Polish legation arranged further passports.<br />
Existing information could, however, be enough to prove without doubt that the Polish mission and those behind it had used the 70-year-old Hügli to present as Paraguayan citizens certain people in whom the German and Russian authorities were particularly interested.<br />
It seems that Hügli himself was not very engaged in these activities, but ultimately allowed the gentlemen of the Polish mission to convince him </p>
<p><small>Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E2001E#1000-1571#657#27</small></p>

for the following people:
Dawid Halberstamm, rabbi;
M.B. Sokolow, writer;
J. Landau, oberrabin;
Mendel Lewin, oberrabin;
A.M. Alter, rabbi;
J.L. Frommer, chancellor of the Talmudical Academy in Lublin;
J. Trockenheim, senator;
N. Rabinowicz, oberrabin;
Mrs Joskowicz, rabbi’s wife;
L.G. Fridenson, editor;
Abraham Danziger, rabbi;
A.Gradus, merchant;
A. Messing, merchant;
Hela Bornstein, widow to a murdered oberrabin;
A.M. Lewin, son of a great rabbi;
M. Stockhammer, secretary of the Warsaw rabbinate;
B. Morgenstern, oberrabin in Sokołów;
J. Kenigsberg, director of the Talmudical Academy in Lublin;
Dr Mazur, doctor;
G. Sirato, main hazzan.
It cannot be ascertained from the file by which means the Polish legation arranged further passports.
Existing information could, however, be enough to prove without doubt that the Polish mission and those behind it had used the 70-year-old Hügli to present as Paraguayan citizens certain people in whom the German and Russian authorities were particularly interested.
It seems that Hügli himself was not very engaged in these activities, but ultimately allowed the gentlemen of the Polish mission to convince him

Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E2001E#1000-1571#657#27

<p>that he would be undertaking actions that were apparently justified because Poland and Paraguay were on the same side in the war. He seems not to have realized that he could cause trouble for the authorities of his own home country.</p>
<p>In any case, the guilt of the Polish gentlemen is evident as regards the passports and the sanctions that the Federal Councillor von Steiger advises are entirely appropriate.<br />
Kühl is hitherto not in possession of a blue card in spite of the various activities of the Polish mission. However, he enjoys a privileged position, as if he were not subject to the provisions of the Fremdenpolizei and treated as a civil servant of the mission, who would belong to the second category. He also receives food stamps from the Foreign Department.<br />
For a long time, the Fremdenpolizei has insisted on establishing its relationship with Kühl, and to that end a letter dated 30 April this year was sent to us by Mr Baechtold. It could be time to invite Kühl to try to determine the nature of his continued stay in Switzerland with the responsible authorities of the Fremdenpolizei and to suggest to the Polish legation that they refrain from employing this man.<br />
/left margin – illegible handwritten note/ Both Mr. Ryniewicz and Mr. Rokicki are being summoned to the Department and they will be told that their actions are at least partly responsible for the difficulties that Mr. Hügli is currently facing.<br />
9 August 1943<br />
/signature – illegible/</p>
<p><small>Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E2001E#1000-1571#657#27</small></p>

that he would be undertaking actions that were apparently justified because Poland and Paraguay were on the same side in the war. He seems not to have realized that he could cause trouble for the authorities of his own home country.

In any case, the guilt of the Polish gentlemen is evident as regards the passports and the sanctions that the Federal Councillor von Steiger advises are entirely appropriate.
Kühl is hitherto not in possession of a blue card in spite of the various activities of the Polish mission. However, he enjoys a privileged position, as if he were not subject to the provisions of the Fremdenpolizei and treated as a civil servant of the mission, who would belong to the second category. He also receives food stamps from the Foreign Department.
For a long time, the Fremdenpolizei has insisted on establishing its relationship with Kühl, and to that end a letter dated 30 April this year was sent to us by Mr Baechtold. It could be time to invite Kühl to try to determine the nature of his continued stay in Switzerland with the responsible authorities of the Fremdenpolizei and to suggest to the Polish legation that they refrain from employing this man.
/left margin – illegible handwritten note/ Both Mr. Ryniewicz and Mr. Rokicki are being summoned to the Department and they will be told that their actions are at least partly responsible for the difficulties that Mr. Hügli is currently facing.
9 August 1943
/signature – illegible/

Swiss Federal Archives, CH-BAR#E2001E#1000-1571#657#27

Cables

The cables which arrived at and were sent from the Polish Legation in Bern show the efforts to which the Polish diplomats in Bern went in order to rescue Jews and represent an invaluable source of knowledge on the Second World War.

After the Germans occupied Vichy France in November 1942, mail correspondence was severed and ciphertexts became the only means of communication between continental Europe and the rest of the world. The chargé d’affaires from the Polish Legation in Bern, Aleksander Ładoś, perfectly understood the gravity of this situation and the significance of an exchange of intelligence and agreed for his mission’s secret diplomatic code to be used more broadly. This made it possible to establish permanent—albeit illegal—contact between Jewish organizations in Europe and the United States, as well as communication between the Polish government-in-exile in London and the Polish institutions still operating on the continent. This method of communication was the only way to avoid the information embargo imposed by the US on news from Europe, and it was thanks to this that ever more detailed intelligence about the mass extermination of Europe’s Jews was sent overseas.

The aid provided by the Polish Legation in Bern was not limited to the exchange of information and intelligence. Especially important aid included cooperation with the Polish consulate in New York to transfer funds from America to Jews in need. The funds collected by the Jewish diaspora in the United States was sent to banks in Switzerland and the amounts, dates and intentions for the transferred money were included in the cables received by the Polish Legation in Bern.

The coded cables are one of the most important sources in the research being carried out by the Pilecki Institute and highlight the operations connected to the issuance of forged passports. One example is a cable sent to Washington in which Abraham Silberschein requests the assistance and approval of Jewish organizations in America for the passport campaign, explains its basis and also presents its achievements. The cable carries the signature of Aleksander Ładoś who supported the request.

The ciphertexts also made it possible to reconstruct a far-reaching diplomatic campaign aimed at officially recognizing the false identity documents. This came as a consequence of the Third Reich’s attempts to establish the true nationality of people in possession of Latin American identity documents. and was aimed at establishing the document holder as a citizen of one of Latin America’s nations. When Polish diplomats learned about the planned appointment of a commission whose task would be to check the legality of the documents being issued in connection with prisoner exchange from the Vittel camp, they took immediate action to have the passports recognized by their respective Latin American countries. It was an extremely delicate and difficult process as the documents were issued illegally and the authorities of those countries were not aware of their falsification. The operation involved sending dozens of cables to London, New York and back, attempts to influence South American governments in order to have the citizenship of the passport holders officially recognized, and efforts to gain the support of countries that had nothing to do with passport campaign (US, the Vatican). Most countries understood the gravity of the situation and recognized the issued passports. Nevertheless, the interned people at Vittel could not be saved. They were taken to Drancy and later to Auschwitz. Only a small group of the sick or people in hiding survived. However, groups of South American passport holders were saved from other internment camps such as Bergen-Belsen and Tittmoning.

The role of the Polish government-in-exile in London cannot be overlooked. It was apprised of the situation and did not remain indifferent to the fates of the passport holders, assertively taking the initiative instead. This is evidenced in such cables as the one sent by Tadeusz Romer to all the Polish legations with a request for the diplomats to take action. Romer wanted to muster the entire world—from politicians to spiritual leaders—to rescue thousands of interned Jews from certain death.

The cables are proof of the unique nature of the European operation carried out by the Polish Legation in Bern. They show that Polish diplomats acted to save lives both through information (transferring intelligence on the Holocaust to the public in the United States) and through action (coordinating the issuance of forged passports). It can be clearly seen from the cables that Poles strove to involve various European nations, representatives of different nationalities and faiths, to come together to rescue individuals of Jewish nationality.

<p>To Washington, No. 7, dated 29.8.1942<br />
To Jakób Rosenheim, Agudas, 817 West End Avenue corner, 100th Street, New York City;<br />
from Sternbuch, St. Gallen:<br />
“According to numerous reliable accounts, a part of the Warsaw Ghetto has recently been emptied, this being accompanied by the bestial murder of some 100,000 Jews; the mass killings are continuing, and the bodies are used to make soap and artificial fertilizer. A similar fate will become the lot of deportees from other countries. Only energetic countermeasures undertaken by the Americans may halt this persecution. Do everything in your power to bring about such a reaction as rapidly as possible: involve society, the press, statesmen. Notify Lubawiczer, Silver, Wise, Einstein, Klatskin, Goldman, Tomasz Mann and others. Do not mention my name. Please confirm receipt of the telegram.”</p>
<p>POLMISSION</p>
<p>Cable concerning the liquidation of the Warsaw Ghetto<br />
<small>Archiwum Akt Nowych AAN_2_495_0_-_330_0083</small></p>

To Washington, No. 7, dated 29.8.1942
To Jakób Rosenheim, Agudas, 817 West End Avenue corner, 100th Street, New York City;
from Sternbuch, St. Gallen:
“According to numerous reliable accounts, a part of the Warsaw Ghetto has recently been emptied, this being accompanied by the bestial murder of some 100,000 Jews; the mass killings are continuing, and the bodies are used to make soap and artificial fertilizer. A similar fate will become the lot of deportees from other countries. Only energetic countermeasures undertaken by the Americans may halt this persecution. Do everything in your power to bring about such a reaction as rapidly as possible: involve society, the press, statesmen. Notify Lubawiczer, Silver, Wise, Einstein, Klatskin, Goldman, Tomasz Mann and others. Do not mention my name. Please confirm receipt of the telegram.”

POLMISSION

Cable concerning the liquidation of the Warsaw Ghetto
Archiwum Akt Nowych AAN_2_495_0_-_330_0083

Washington – Jewish payments and information

– 125 –

From Washington, No. 5, dated 7.6.1943
Please notify Chaim Israel Eiss, Mullerstrasse 69, Zurich, that the monies recently passed on to him by rabbi Kotler and Lewin are allotted for the following 14 families:
Ziemba Mosze, Friedman Frydenson Orlean Zusze Frydman Blatt Lwów Hendeles, Mendel Hornstein, Simon Schreiber, Sara Kluger, Malka Anisfeld Elchonon Waserman, Jankiel Czerbuchowski, Szolom Kalmanowicz, the last three: Kaunas, 15 Wiljempole Poneru Street.
The sum of 1,500 Swiss Francs has been allotted for each family – please do not change the allotment. Monies will be passed on for rabbi Samuel Dawid Ungar. Please notify for whom he has organized the necessary documents, for whom he is still able to organize such papers, and whether he is in touch with Wilno and Kaunas through South American consulates. Rabbi Feiwel Jeruchem, Stary-Sambor, has an old Costa Rican passport (or has had such a passport for a long time), please assist his sister, Sara Kluger, and her children: Natan, Elias, Bluma – organize Paraguayan documents.
Please notify Saul Weingort, Belmont 29, Montreux, that Szabse Fraenkel has sent him a total of 1,700 $ for the Fraenkel and Kornitzer families; separately 800 $ for the Rapaports; separately 400 $ for Sulamit Markels, born in Warsaw on 12 April 1924, whose present address is: care of Zdanowicz, 5 Ludwika Street, Warsaw. He learned from Eisenstadt that Józef, Aleksander, Mendel, Matel, Gizela and Izydor Kornitzer had been saved. He asks for information whether they were saved thanks to the passports, and if so, he requests that copies of the documents be sent. He further entreats that Weingort be requested to ask Gizela Kornitzer, Katz, Kraków, 5 Orzeszkowej Street, whether she also wants documents.
Please notify about the fate of the brother, Jakób Fraenkel, and Chaja Perla Kornitzer, living together with 4 children.

Cable concerning the transfer of funds for the passports
Archiwum Akt Nowych AAN_2_495_0_-_330_0125

<p>Dispatch no. 583 dated 18.12.1943 /most urgent/<br />
Sternbuch, the president of the Relief Organization for Jewish Refugees Abroad, asks that the following be forwarded:<br />
“The owners of Paraguayan passports issued by the former consul of Paraguay in Bern, who are currently being held in internment camps for South American citizens in Germany, are facing the risk of deportation and horrible death because the Spanish ambassador in Berlin does not accept the passports as valid; he is acting on instructions from the Paraguayan government and the Pan American Union. The local apostolic nuncio had intervened in Madrid but he hasn’t received a reply. He is also trying to arrange for a Vatican intervention in Paraguay. Please take all possible steps to cause interventions in this matter — through organizations, noteworthy individuals and the Dutch government — putting pressure on the Pan American Union and the Paraguayan government to rescind their instructions for the Spanish ambassador in Berlin, at least temporarily. The matter concerns Polish, Belgian and Dutch citizens who will return the passports and go back to their home countries after the war. Their home governments guarantee this, so American nations won’t have any obligations towards the passport holders. Many of the interned also have valid Palestinian immigration certificates. Please provide all possible guarantees. The lives of these people now depend solely on the decisions of American governments; it would be disgraceful to send them to certain death. Please provide immediate information about actions taken in this matter and their prospective results.”<br />
“Please send this message immediately to the following addresses:<br />
I. Agudat, Gerrer Rebbe, Jerusalem;<br />
II. Agudat, Rosenheim, New York;<br />
III. Rabbi S. Zalmanoff, 5501, 15 Avenue, Brooklyn;<br />
IV. Schabse Fränkel, 112 Wilson Street, Brooklyn;<br />
V. Harry Goodman, 27 Lord’s Park, London N.16.”<br />
/-/ ŁADOŚ</p>
<p>One of the first requests for intervention concerning the need to rescue passport holders<br />
<small>Archiwum Akt Nowych AAN_2_495_327_0321</small></p>

Dispatch no. 583 dated 18.12.1943 /most urgent/
Sternbuch, the president of the Relief Organization for Jewish Refugees Abroad, asks that the following be forwarded:
“The owners of Paraguayan passports issued by the former consul of Paraguay in Bern, who are currently being held in internment camps for South American citizens in Germany, are facing the risk of deportation and horrible death because the Spanish ambassador in Berlin does not accept the passports as valid; he is acting on instructions from the Paraguayan government and the Pan American Union. The local apostolic nuncio had intervened in Madrid but he hasn’t received a reply. He is also trying to arrange for a Vatican intervention in Paraguay. Please take all possible steps to cause interventions in this matter — through organizations, noteworthy individuals and the Dutch government — putting pressure on the Pan American Union and the Paraguayan government to rescind their instructions for the Spanish ambassador in Berlin, at least temporarily. The matter concerns Polish, Belgian and Dutch citizens who will return the passports and go back to their home countries after the war. Their home governments guarantee this, so American nations won’t have any obligations towards the passport holders. Many of the interned also have valid Palestinian immigration certificates. Please provide all possible guarantees. The lives of these people now depend solely on the decisions of American governments; it would be disgraceful to send them to certain death. Please provide immediate information about actions taken in this matter and their prospective results.”
“Please send this message immediately to the following addresses:
I. Agudat, Gerrer Rebbe, Jerusalem;
II. Agudat, Rosenheim, New York;
III. Rabbi S. Zalmanoff, 5501, 15 Avenue, Brooklyn;
IV. Schabse Fränkel, 112 Wilson Street, Brooklyn;
V. Harry Goodman, 27 Lord’s Park, London N.16.”
/-/ ŁADOŚ

One of the first requests for intervention concerning the need to rescue passport holders
Archiwum Akt Nowych AAN_2_495_327_0321

<p>To Washington — dispatch no. 30 dated 26.4.1944 /most urgent/<br />
St. for A.:<br />
The people interned in Vittel have been deported — they’re currently in Drancy near Paris. This information comes from two escapees. They claim that the countries that are supposed to offer diplomatic protection — that is Spain and Switzerland — haven’t yet informed any German authorities about the documents being accepted as valid. The responsibility is now yours: please cause a Spanish and Swiss intervention in this matter within 24 hours. Otherwise, all these people will be lost.<br />
POLMISSION</p>
<p>One of many requests to rescue people on the transport to Drancy<br />
<small>Archiwum Akt Nowych AAN_2_495_331_0057</small></p>

To Washington — dispatch no. 30 dated 26.4.1944 /most urgent/
St. for A.:
The people interned in Vittel have been deported — they’re currently in Drancy near Paris. This information comes from two escapees. They claim that the countries that are supposed to offer diplomatic protection — that is Spain and Switzerland — haven’t yet informed any German authorities about the documents being accepted as valid. The responsibility is now yours: please cause a Spanish and Swiss intervention in this matter within 24 hours. Otherwise, all these people will be lost.
POLMISSION

One of many requests to rescue people on the transport to Drancy
Archiwum Akt Nowych AAN_2_495_331_0057

<p>To Washington — dispatch no. 11 dated 12.5.1943<br />
(via 187 to London)<br />
"According to fully trustworthy sources, only 10% of the General Government area Jews are still alive. In view of this, I considered it my utmost duty to organize rescue for them — most especially for noteworthy individuals and the youth, particularly for young people connected to HeHalutz [pioneering Zionist youth organization].<br />
The rescue operation involves acquiring passports from friendly consuls of South American countries, especially Paraguay and Honduras. The original passports remain here, while their photocopies are sent to Poland. The photocopied passports save lives because their Polish “owners” are given the status of “foreigners” and placed in special camps, with relatively decent living conditions, where they are to remain until the war ends. We can contact them by post in those camps. Meanwhile, we give written warranties to the relevant consuls that the passports will only be used to save people and not in any other way. So far we have used this method to rescue, among others, Natan Ek [Eck], Professor Schorr’s wife and family, rabbi Rappaport from Pińczów, Feiwel Stempel, as well as many young people.<br />
There is, however, significant resistance to this operation on the part of local US diplomats. They fear that the documents will be used to aid the escape of German agents — the fear is unfounded, since the actual passports stay with us.<br />
I expect that they will notify Washington of their concerns. In light of this, I urge you to obtain support for our operation in the Department of State. Furthermore, please express your support for it to all the diplomatic representatives of South American nations residing in Washington and, if possible, make arrangements so that South American consuls in Switzerland are allowed to issue a certain number of such rescue passports.<br />
The operation is fully supported by the Polish Legation in Bern, who are doing everything they can to help us.<br />
(-) Dr.Silberschein<br />
Note: Also send this message to the Jew-</p>
<p>Cable describing the course of the passport operation<br />
<small>Archiwum Akt Nowych AAN_2_495_330_0127</small></p>

To Washington — dispatch no. 11 dated 12.5.1943
(via 187 to London)
"According to fully trustworthy sources, only 10% of the General Government area Jews are still alive. In view of this, I considered it my utmost duty to organize rescue for them — most especially for noteworthy individuals and the youth, particularly for young people connected to HeHalutz [pioneering Zionist youth organization].
The rescue operation involves acquiring passports from friendly consuls of South American countries, especially Paraguay and Honduras. The original passports remain here, while their photocopies are sent to Poland. The photocopied passports save lives because their Polish “owners” are given the status of “foreigners” and placed in special camps, with relatively decent living conditions, where they are to remain until the war ends. We can contact them by post in those camps. Meanwhile, we give written warranties to the relevant consuls that the passports will only be used to save people and not in any other way. So far we have used this method to rescue, among others, Natan Ek [Eck], Professor Schorr’s wife and family, rabbi Rappaport from Pińczów, Feiwel Stempel, as well as many young people.
There is, however, significant resistance to this operation on the part of local US diplomats. They fear that the documents will be used to aid the escape of German agents — the fear is unfounded, since the actual passports stay with us.
I expect that they will notify Washington of their concerns. In light of this, I urge you to obtain support for our operation in the Department of State. Furthermore, please express your support for it to all the diplomatic representatives of South American nations residing in Washington and, if possible, make arrangements so that South American consuls in Switzerland are allowed to issue a certain number of such rescue passports.
The operation is fully supported by the Polish Legation in Bern, who are doing everything they can to help us.
(-) Dr.Silberschein
Note: Also send this message to the Jew-

Cable describing the course of the passport operation
Archiwum Akt Nowych AAN_2_495_330_0127

<p>-ish World Congress, to Weis, Goldman and Tartakower with an additional line: “Please help us expand this operation and save Sh'erit ha-Pletah.”<br />
I fully support the above request.<br />
(-) ŁADOŚ</p>
<p>Cable describing the course of the passport operation<br />
<small>Archiwum Akt Nowych AAN_2_495_330_0128</small></p>

-ish World Congress, to Weis, Goldman and Tartakower with an additional line: “Please help us expand this operation and save Sh'erit ha-Pletah.”
I fully support the above request.
(-) ŁADOŚ

Cable describing the course of the passport operation
Archiwum Akt Nowych AAN_2_495_330_0128

<p>Dispatch no. 584 dated 19.12.1943 /most urgent/<br />
Acting on instructions from the Paraguayan government, the Spanish ambassador in Berlin wants to invalidate the courtesy Paraguayan passports issued to Polish Jews by the consul of Paraguay in Bern. Thanks to those passports these Jews have been placed in a special internment camp for citizens of Allied countries. Due to this problematic situation, a German commission visited the camp on 12 December and took for inspection all passports of Allied countries held by Jews.<br />
Mr. Minister, I ask you to intervene immediately and strongly in this matter, contacting all relevant governments (Britain, the United States, Paraguay, Honduras, Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Haiti, Chile and Venezuela) as well as the Pan American Union to urgently obtain instructions for Allied diplomatic representatives in Berlin so that all such passports shall be accepted as valid for the duration of the war. They are intended for purely humanitarian purposes — to save people from certain death — and will not create any obligations for the relevant governments after the war.<br />
The matter is most urgent. I thank you in advance for informing me about the results of your interventions.<br />
/-/ ŁADOŚ</p>
<p>Request for help for interned passport holders<br />
<small>Archiwum Akt Nowych AAN_2_495_0_-_327_0322</small></p>

Dispatch no. 584 dated 19.12.1943 /most urgent/
Acting on instructions from the Paraguayan government, the Spanish ambassador in Berlin wants to invalidate the courtesy Paraguayan passports issued to Polish Jews by the consul of Paraguay in Bern. Thanks to those passports these Jews have been placed in a special internment camp for citizens of Allied countries. Due to this problematic situation, a German commission visited the camp on 12 December and took for inspection all passports of Allied countries held by Jews.
Mr. Minister, I ask you to intervene immediately and strongly in this matter, contacting all relevant governments (Britain, the United States, Paraguay, Honduras, Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Haiti, Chile and Venezuela) as well as the Pan American Union to urgently obtain instructions for Allied diplomatic representatives in Berlin so that all such passports shall be accepted as valid for the duration of the war. They are intended for purely humanitarian purposes — to save people from certain death — and will not create any obligations for the relevant governments after the war.
The matter is most urgent. I thank you in advance for informing me about the results of your interventions.
/-/ ŁADOŚ

Request for help for interned passport holders
Archiwum Akt Nowych AAN_2_495_0_-_327_0322

From Washington — dispatch no. 2 dated 8.1.1944

For Izak [Isaac] Sternbuch:
As regards the appeal of Neutraer and Satmarer, we will soon send you a couple dozen thousands for rescue operations in Hungary. You can borrow money for that, since we’ve already collected significant sums and we’re just waiting for an appropriate license. The Jewish Labor Committee instructed their representative — one Michel in Geneva — to give you a certain sum for the cause. Inform us by cable how much he gave you. Joint [JDC] declared they’ve authorized Saly Mayer to provide most generous funding for the whole operation. We expect your immediate response, describing what Joint is actually doing.
Concerning the passports, we’ve facilitated an intervention by the US government. Paraguay hasn’t invalidated the passports and doesn’t plan to do that, so the actions of the Spanish embassy are unclear. The US government has openly demanded that Paraguay have Spain rescind their actions in this regard, just in case. We’ve also facilitated an intervention by the apostolic nuncio, who related the matter to the Vatican. Inform us by cable how things are right now and whether we should also intervene with other South American countries; if yes, specify which ones. Further, notify us if you’d want us to send you passports; we have some means to do that.
We repeat our request that you confirm whether you’ve arranged passports in Switzerland for the particular families for whom we’ve given money to Eiss, Boczka, Weingort and Erlanger. We need a list if we’re to continue collecting money.
Contact Lazar Schoendorf — address: Bruggerstrasse 21, Baden — regarding the Rosen family; tell us what the cost would be. Do you have any news from the Jeruchem family from Stary Sambor? Contact the family of Moses Szapiro and Hena Jankielewicz in Sanok.
/-/ ROSENHEIM
/-/ LEWIN

Information on the reactions to the requests for intervention to help passport holders
Archiwum Akt Nowych AAN_2_495_331_0003

<p>CIPHERED TELEGRAM OUTGOING<br />
TO POLMISSION: BUENOS AIRES, SANTIAGO, LIMA, BOGOTA, MEXICO, HAVANA?, WASHINGTON, THE VATICAN<br />
FROM THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS<br />
SENT ON 11 APRIL 1944<br />
The envoy of the Republic of Poland in Bern reports: “on 20th March the German authorities ordered the deportation of Jews, holders of South American passports, hitherto interned in Vittel. This was preceded by an official statement to the effect that they shall consider said persons as South American citizens solely on condition that they may be exchanged for German citizens. The lives of these people may be saved only by an official declaration of South American states, submitted through the agency of neutral states (Spain, Switzerland) and confirming that such an exchange is indeed possible. In practice, the exchange would not take place, however the declaration itself could save lives. The diplomatic mission of the United States in Bern has turned to its government with a request for intervention, as has the nuncio to the Vatican.”<br />
I ask you, Esteemed Sir (Chargé d’Affaires), to revisit the matter with the governments to which you are accredited, having first communicated with your American colleague, who shall doubtless receive instructions from Washington.<br />
Contacts with Washington: (instead of the above paragraph) I request you, Ambassador, to support the matter at the Department of State in order to bring about the issuance of instructions for American envoys serving in Latin America.</p>
<p>One of many cables from the Polish government addressed to Polish legations with a request for support for the passport operation<br />
<small>Instytut Hoovera 800_420_265</small></p>

CIPHERED TELEGRAM OUTGOING
TO POLMISSION: BUENOS AIRES, SANTIAGO, LIMA, BOGOTA, MEXICO, HAVANA?, WASHINGTON, THE VATICAN
FROM THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SENT ON 11 APRIL 1944
The envoy of the Republic of Poland in Bern reports: “on 20th March the German authorities ordered the deportation of Jews, holders of South American passports, hitherto interned in Vittel. This was preceded by an official statement to the effect that they shall consider said persons as South American citizens solely on condition that they may be exchanged for German citizens. The lives of these people may be saved only by an official declaration of South American states, submitted through the agency of neutral states (Spain, Switzerland) and confirming that such an exchange is indeed possible. In practice, the exchange would not take place, however the declaration itself could save lives. The diplomatic mission of the United States in Bern has turned to its government with a request for intervention, as has the nuncio to the Vatican.”
I ask you, Esteemed Sir (Chargé d’Affaires), to revisit the matter with the governments to which you are accredited, having first communicated with your American colleague, who shall doubtless receive instructions from Washington.
Contacts with Washington: (instead of the above paragraph) I request you, Ambassador, to support the matter at the Department of State in order to bring about the issuance of instructions for American envoys serving in Latin America.

One of many cables from the Polish government addressed to Polish legations with a request for support for the passport operation
Instytut Hoovera 800_420_265

<p>Contacts with the Vatican: I ask you, Ambassador, to turn to the Secretariat of State with a request that instructions be sent to nuncios serving in Latin America to intervene with the corresponding governments for humanitarian reasons.<br />
To all diplomatic personnel: please inform about the results of said interventions.</p>
<p>ROMER</p>
<p>One of many cables from the Polish government addressed to Polish legations with a request for support for the passport operation<br />
<small>Instytut Hoovera 800_420_266</small></p>

Contacts with the Vatican: I ask you, Ambassador, to turn to the Secretariat of State with a request that instructions be sent to nuncios serving in Latin America to intervene with the corresponding governments for humanitarian reasons.
To all diplomatic personnel: please inform about the results of said interventions.

ROMER

One of many cables from the Polish government addressed to Polish legations with a request for support for the passport operation
Instytut Hoovera 800_420_266

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