German Ambassador Hans Luther is serving as an agent of the Nazi Party in the United States, charged Congressman John W. McCormack, chairman of the Congressional Committee investigating subversive and un-American activities, in a statement preceding a closed session of the Committee at the Bar Association building, 42 West Forty-fourth street yesterday.
“Evidence before this committee shows that he is an accredited agent of the National Socialist Party in German,” Mr. McCormack asserted.
The ambassador was violating international legal principles by “attempting to inculcate the policy of its government within the confines of a friendly nation,” he declared.
He cited the testimony of Ernst Berkenhoff who admitted Monday that he is a member of the Nazi Party visiting here and had instructions to report either to ### local Nazi unit or the German embassy upon arrival.
A wallet lost by Berkenhoff containing documents linking him to the Nazi Party led to his being subpoenaed by the committee. The wallet contained instructions from the Nazi party to report to the branch of the Nazi Party in whatever country he visits.
McCormack declared that Germany is “violating international law and violating the hospitality
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
