Evening star., 1941-12-11
Italian and German
Embassies Are Calm
AT War Declaration
'FieurutiveIy Speoking,'
Papers Have Been Lifted.
Nozi Envoy Says

war On the united otdleS lHe SeI
man and Italian Embassies were
about the quietest spots in the
Capital.
When reporters rang the bell at
the Italian Embassy shortly after
Italy declared war. an aproned man
servant appeared after long inter-
val with the announcement:
THE boss is still in bed"
At the German Embassy, the
Charge d'Affaires, Hans Thomson,
had only a brief statement to make
at 1925 o'clock on his return from
the State Department. He declared
that "figuratively speaking the
State Department had taken away
his credentials today and he was
no longer an accredited diplomat.
Baron Comes and Goes Freely.
Baron Ulrich Won Gienanth, Sec
ond Secretary of the German En-
bassy, stopped to chat with report
ers on one of several trips in and
out of the Embassy this morning
He said that so far as he knew, he
was under no restrictions and could
60 where he wished.
The Baron. who said he is men,
Der of the Elite Guard in the S. s.,
told newsmen he hoped to go to the
front when he returns to Germany
He came here in September, 1889.
At $50 o'clock the Italian En-
bassy and the chancery around the
corner on Fuller street did have the
appearance of being asleep.
Admits Burning Papers.
An Embassy secretary. who refused
to give his name, admitted at 10
o'clock the staff had been burning
documents for the last two days. He
said this was justified because the
American Embassy in Rome has
been doing likewise for three days.
He denied that any official word
had been received from Rome Of
the declaration of war at that time.
He said the Ambassador and all
other officials we're too busy to talk
to reporters. Embassy officials
dashed in and out of the building
all morning, speeding to and from
the building in large automobiles.
Most refused any comment.
At $40 o'clock, 10 minutes after
a chancery clerk had denied knowl-
edge that his country was warning
with the United States. Radiogram
Messenger Stanford Bennett, 81. ar
rived at the Embassy with a mes
sage which was received anXiously.
Seeks to Dodge Picture.
Mr.. Bennett said he was an en-
ploye of the Radio Corp. of America.
He said he did not know the con-
tents of the message he had deliv-
cred
The Embassy clerk. in receiving
the message, made every attempt 70
avoid being photographed. He
opened the door and darted to one
side. then asked the radiogram mes
senger to come in.
The Italian diplomats were busy
all morning in an attempt to sell
their fine automobiles. Shortly be-
fore that the Embassy was told that
all cars had been frozen" by the
American Government and could
not be sold.
Poles in High Spirits.
Police on guard outside the build
Ing chatted about the situa ton with
residents of the area who were
standing on Sixteenth street waiting
for buses. One woman. commented
that she was born in Italy but that
she hopes that America will go
over there and clean the place up"
The staff of the Embassy for the
Polish government in exile. Just
across Fuller street from the Italian
Embassy, was in high spirits today.
Attaches came out to chat with re-
porters and photographers standing
in the cold outside the Italian En-
bassy and a least one high official
donated a quart bottle of whisky
for the small crowd.
The Italians were in different
mood. One dark-haired woman
came out to mail letter and said.
This is very bad for every one"
Shortly after l pm agents of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation
barred delivery of packages and tele-
grams to the Embassy. After max
ing a telephone call. one of the
agents directed the driver of laun-
dry truck to leave with laundry
packages he was about to take to a
door of the building. Thereafter,
no deliveries were permitted.
Previously, the F. B. I, men twice
had prevented mailing letter in a
mailbox outside the Embassy. First.
woman member of the staff was
told she would not be allowed to de-
post a letter. A few minutes later,
q man clerk was similarly Informed.
Both re-entered the Embassy with
out dispute.
There appeared nothing to pre-
vent mailing Of letters elsewhere by
the various staff members who were
going in and out of the building
however.
When the italian mbassador re-
turned in his limousine after trip
out he appeared glum, and in re-
sponse to questions said he had not
vet turned in his credentials to the
State Department.
In Amiable Mood.
Told by reporters that the italian
Embassy had issued a statement
saying that it had destroyed all
secret documents kept there. Mr.
Thomson said he did not believe
the German Embassy has very
many secret documents"
The charge d'affaires said he did
not know when the Embassy staff
would leave. but added that he be-
lieved it would take considerable
time to make all the arrangements
The diplomat appeared to be In
good humor, and chatted amlably
as he stood beside the car which had
brought him from the State De-
partment. Before entering the En-
bassy, he said. Anything elSe?" anc
then gave a little bow toward the
reporters.