Evening star., 1941-12-28
NewU. Ambassador
To Cuba Is Known as
Nazi Agent Hunter
Bruden Initiated First
Blacklist While Serving
In Boeoto, Colombia
By JOHN LEAR.
Wide World News.

Spruille Braden, the new United
States Ambassador to Cuba, has
nose for Nazis.
His Offices in Bogota during his
ambassadorship to Colombia-the
post he leaves to replace George
Messersmith at Havana-had more
complete record Of known or alleged
Axis agents in that country than
was to be found in any other en-
bassy or legation In South America.
There were more than 5000 cards
in a special fifth column index file.
Each card bore the name. address,
ostensible occupation, undercover
activities and favorite hang -outs of
a man or woman known or believed
to be associated in some direct or
indirect manner with Germany.
Mr.. Braden was not content with
listing identified and suspected Nazis
and pro-Nazis in Colombia. He did
everything he could to weed them
out.
Initiated Blacklist.
He was the first to compile a
blacklist" of Axis businesses. At
| his inSiStance, United States firms
employing Germans or pro-Ger-
mans as distribution agents we're
prodded into changing their repre-
sentatives in Colombia months prior
| to the time when such changes were
made general practice on the con-
tinent. BY the time the full black
list was officially announced in
Washington. most of the desired
shifts already had been made, which
was one reason why Colombia pro-
tested against the published list.
Mr.. Braden also obtained the CO.
operation of the Colombian govern
ment in removing Nazi and Nazi
sympathizers from key jobs in the
oil fields along the Magdalena River
a year before the more spectacular
crackdowns of Argentina, Bolivia
Chile and Uruguay on their fifth
columns"
He anticipated so many Axis
moves that his home telephone
wires were tapped as early as Last
Christmas. But he had advance
information on that, too. He showed
me, after lunch at his house one
day, where the taps were placed
He said the tappers never learned
anything. They only embarrassed
his wife's friends, who couldn't un-
derstand why she failed to answer
questions on the phone.
Unorthodox Manner.
Probably Mr.. Braden's success tr
fighting the unorthodox methods OF
the Axis is largely due to the fact
that he is unorthodox.
When I first met him in Bogota he
popped into the reception room with
no introduction of any sort anc
said hello" I was talking to hin
for five minutes before I realized
I was addressing the Ambassador
and not one of his secretaries.
He is tall and husky, with enough
circumference at the waist to keel
him from worrying about losing
few pounds. So he is just the mai
for a wear and tear assignment lik
a Nazi nerve war"
No matter how late he was ou
the night before Che dances amaz
ingly well for his weight, and play
a brilliant hand Of BRIDGE he ha
always read his four newspaper
before he arrives at the ONCE be
tween 10 and II am. Anyone sit
ting anywhere in his embassy ca
tell when he arrives. The plac
starts to hum like a battery Of bee.
In Latin lands where patienc
is the supreme virtue, he is almos
never nettled. or at least he rarel
shows it. He states his opinion
frankly, and expects others to d
the same. His men like him be