Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-15
Boron Won Neuroth,
Germon Diplomat, Dies

STUTTGART, Germany. Aug.
Is (P).-Baron Konstantin Won
Neurath, SO, Hitler's Foreign
Minister for time and PRO
ltector" of occupied Czechoslo-
Ivakia, died yesterday, his family
ANNOUNCED today.
Death came at his Enzwei-
hingen home near here. Death
was attributed to heart all
ment, angina pectoris.
Baron Won Neurath was freed
from Spandau Prison in Berlin
November 6, 1854. He had served
eight years of a l5-year sentence
as a top Nazi war criminal.
Held Pivotal Posts
Baron Won Neurath was cham
berlain to the last King of Wurt-
Itemberg, a diplomat in important
pivotal posts for many years.
German Minister of Foreign At
fairs from 1882 to 1888 and
finally Hitler'S personal repre-
sentative as Lord-Protector of
Bohemia Moravia.
Born on February 2, 1873, in
Klein lattbach, Wurttemberg,
ne came from distinguished an
cestry. His forebears had Bohe-
milan Kings as their Sires; his
father was an intimate friend of
Wilhelm II, the last of Wurttem-
berg Kings. His wife. born Marie
MoSer Won FilSeck, also came
from the old nobility.
After studying law Baron Won
Neurath entered the consular
service of imperial Germany in
1901. From 1903 to 1908 he was
Vice Consul in London. BY 1914
he had risen to the rank of
lCounselor-of Embassy. He had
just reached Constantinople Us
tanbuD to take up his duties
there when the World War broke
out. He hurried home to join the
Icolors and entered the army as a
captain of infantry.
Was Envoy to Rome
In 1919 he re-entered the diplo-
matte service to become German
Minister to Copenhagen. Three
years later he became Ambassa-
dor to Rome. There he won the
confidence and friendship of Pre-
mier MusSolini, paving the way
for the eventual Rome-Berlin
axis.
In 1880 he was named AmbaS-
sador to the Court of st. JameS'S.
AS such he was host to Chancel-
Tor Heinrich Bruening and For
eign Minister Julius Curtius
when, in 1881, they visited Prime
Minister Ramsay Macdonald to
discuss Germany'S inability to
pay war PREPARATIONS and when
they returned, few weeks later,
to participate in the seven-power
conference which proceeded the
Hoover moratorium.
In 1882 President Won linden
berg appointed him Foreign Min
lister in his cabinet. When, in
January, 1888. the President En-
trusted the government to Adolf
Hitler, he made it a condition of
the appointment that Baron Won
Neurath remain as Foreign Min
lister.
Baron Won Neurath regarded
it as his foremost task to achieve
the recognition of equality for
Germany at the Geneva dis
armament conference and he
won this point. His activity in
the Hitler cabinet was marked
in rapid succession by Germany's
quitting the disarmament con-
ference October IA. 1888, quitting
the League of Nations, November
is, 1888 and signing a treaty
of friendship with Poland, Janu-
airy 26, 1884.
The next few years were
marked by momentous events, in
GLIDING the Saar plebiscite, the
creation of an air force in de-
fiance to the Versailles treaty,
the declaration that Germany
claimed arms equality for her.
self and the invitation of Sir
John Simon, the British Foreign
Minister, to visit Berlin.
Baron Won Neurath concluded
a treaty with Austria. notified
the world that Germany no
longer considered herself bound