362.1121 Simpson, Lawrence/197: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Germany ( Mayer )
95. With reference to the Simpson case, I told the German Ambassador12 yesterday in substance that although of course the German Government has power to arrest and imprison an American national, I felt constrained and thoroughly justified in bringing to his Government’s attention the fact, wholly beyond the comprehension of our people, that Simpson had been kept in prison for a year without indictment; that the generally recognized practice which protects persons against prolonged imprisonment unless indicted is deeply embedded in our laws; and that the effect on American public opinion has been an aroused feeling of injustice due to the confinement of an American for a year without indictment or trial, or the privilege of release on bail.
You are requested to transmit the sense of the above orally to the German Foreign Office adding that it is my confident hope that Simpson will speedily be brought to trial.
- Hans Luther.↩