862.00/2909: Telegram
The Ambassador in Germany (Sackett) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 23—12:35 p.m.]
25. Goering issued extraordinary instructions to the Prussian police practically demanding from them protection of the Brown Army and Stahlhelm in the election campaign but the treatment of similar organizations of the opposition parties as enemies of the state which must be put down ruthlessly. These orders have encouraged the Nazis to apply terrorist methods in the campaign against the Center Party as well as the parties of the Left. The breaking up of a Centrist meeting in Crefeld at which the principal speaker, former Minister of Labor Stegerwald, was beaten up by Nazis is viewed with alarm as an indication of the course developments are taking in the closing days of this unusually stormy campaign. The Centrist Germania has appealed editorially to Hindenburg to assert his authority as President in order to check such political outrages.
Hitler’s and Goering’s public appeals of yesterday to their followers to exercise discipline attributed the attacks on Centrist meetings to “provocative elements”. This is only a tactical maneuver.
Alarming rumors of plans by the Government to violate openly the Constitution after the election if the parties in power fail to obtain a clear majority are becoming widespread. Resumed muzzling of the press contributes to the circulation of such rumors.
The process of purging the administration of Republican officials is continuing.