Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-03
Sweeping Changes
In Nazi Diplomatic
Ranks Announced
Shifts Are interpreted
As Move to Bolster
Berlin-Tokio Ties
By the Associated Press.

NEW YORK, Jan. 2.-Adolph
Hitler Is carrying out sweeping
changes in Germany's diplomatic
representation abroad, the German
radio announced today. and has
called home his Ambassadors and
Ministers to Spain, Japan and
Sweden.
Within the ambit of a general
retirement of German diplomatic
representatives. the Fuehrer, acting
upon the suggestion made by Ger
man Foreign Minister joachim Won
Ribbentrop, has recalled Eberhard
Won Stohrer, German Ambassador
to Madrid Gen. Eugen OFT, German
Ambassador to Toxic, and Prince
Viktor zu WED, German Minister
to Stockholm, as of January l." the
radio announcement said.
They will be given new posts in
the German Foreign Office" it
added.
ooSS w o"CuCIl.
The announcement said Hans
Adolf Won Moltke would take over
the ambassadorship at Madrid.
Heinrich Georg Stahmer, one
time special envoy to TOXIC and
now the German Ambassador to
Japans puppet Chinese regime at
Marking, is being sent to Toxic, it
continued. DR.. Hans Thomson, for
mer counsellor to the German EN-
bassy at Washington. is to take over
the German diplomatic representa-
ton at Stockholm.
Minister Erich Kordt, attached to
the German Embassy in Toxic, will
act as charge d'affaires at Marking
until a new Ambassador can be ap-
pointed.
Stahmer, who is reported to have
played a acknowledgements role in
the negotiation of the German-Ital-
ian-Japanese pact of alliance, is
being sent to Japan apparently to
strengthen the ties between Berlin
and Toxic at time when those
ties apparently are loosening.
Jap Commission Leaves.
Recent French dispatches from
Turkey told of the departure from
Berlin Of the japanese liaison COM
mission which had been maintained
to dove-tail Axis strategy and ap-
parently to act as the Japanese high
commands eyes and ears in Ger
many.
The dispatches said the commits
sion was returning home by way of
Russia and observers suggested that
in view OF German reverses in
Russia and North Africa the jap
anese we're less eager to coordinate
their strategy with that of the Axis
than ever before.
Won Moltke's record, too, would
seem to indicate that he is being
sent to Madrid at a time when
Hitler is anxious either to tighten
the slipping bonds with Generals
simo Francisco Franco or Of in
creasing his pressure there.
Won Moltke was the chief ne
gotiator of the Polish German nom
dseA SoSAOii paw III 10of a paw WlIlCIl
was broken by Hitler in 1889. Won
Moltke stayed on in Warsaw as
Ambassador until the outbreak of
the war.
Spain Firmly Neutral.
Gen. Franco has recently declared
his neutrality in the war, even going
to the extent, it is reported, OF an
nouncing to Allied and Axis repre-
sentatives that if invaded Spain will
join the opposite side.
Gen. Franco replaced his ardently
pro-AXis brother in-law, Ramon
Serrano Suner, as Foreign Minister
a few months ago and has also
changed his Ambassador in Berlin.
The change of the diplomatic
guard in Stockholm follows rumors
that Germany was considering
changes there with a view, perhaps.
to increasing her pressure on Swe-
den. The Swedish press has been
frequently criticized recently by
German spokesman, who have in
sisted that It's reporters and editorial
writer's were giving too favorable a
reception to Allied war reports.