The West German Government today again requested that Paraguay intensify its search for Josef Mengele, the infamous “selection doctor” of Auschwitz, who alone decided the fate of hundreds of thousands of Jews.
Today’s petition was presented by the West German Ambassador here, and is the latest action in the persistent but, so far, futile attempt on the part of the Bonn Government to obtain the arrest and extradition of the Nazi criminal.
Mengele is believed to have been granted Paraguayan citizenship in 1959. He recently crossed the border to Brazil, but returned to Paraguay after orders for his arrest were issued by the Brazilian authorities. According to reliable reports, Mengele re-entered Paraguay two weeks ago, but Paraguayan officials disclaim all knowledge of his where abouts and contend that, even if he were found, it is doubtful if he would be extradited, as Paraguayan law forbids the extradiction of a naturalized citizen.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.