NAZI DIPLOMAT SHOT

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 39, 9 November 1938, Page 11

NAZI DIPLOMAT SHOT

Seriously Wounded In

Paris

POLISH JEW’S DESIRE FOR VENGEANCE Hitler Likely To Demand Stern Measures £y Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received November 8, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, November 8. A Polish Jew, Herschel Grynszpan, aged 17, shot and seriously wounded Dr. von Rath, Secretary at the German Embassy in Paris yesterday. The youth asked to see the Ambassador, and was told that it was impossible, whereupon he drew a revolver. He told the police that he went to the Embassay on a divine mission and wished to avenge Polish Jews who had been expelled from Germany. He travelled to Paris for that purpose. The German Embassay states that Dr. von Rath was wounded in the chest and lungs and removed to a private hospital, where an operation was performed. His condition is serious. The incident is regarded ns being most regrettable in view o£ the international situation. It is expected that Herr Hitler wul demand that Grynszpau be handed over to Germany as the shooting was perpetrated on technically German territory. It is also expected that he will demand that sterner measures be taken against opponents of the Nazi regime at present in France. Blood Transfusion. The “Daily Telegraph's" Berlin correspondent says that Herr Hitler has . sent his own medical attendant, Dr. Bran'dt, also Professor Madnnss, to Paris by air to attend Dr. von Bath. The Fuehrer also telephoned the Embassy inquiring the condition of Dr. von Rath, who has undergone two operations for blood transfusion.

Grynszpau was born in Hanover, and possessed a Polish passport issued in Paris.

“I am sorry I did not kill him,” he allegedly told the police. “I wished to avenge the Jewish people by killing some German. I did not care whom.’’ A letter from Grynszpan’s parents, which was found dated October 31, read ■ “We are in a train approaching the Polish frontier. We were roughiy expelled from Germany and have been left without a farthing. We do not know what we can do.”

The police have rejected a request by the German Embassy to permit a German representative to be present during file questioning of Grynszpau. The Embassy is now considering whether it will make a formal protect to the French Government.

Grynszpan’s uncle and aunt have been arrested and charged witli harbouring an alien. M. Bonnet, French Foreign Minister, has expressed regret to the German Ambassador.