GESTAPO BLACK LIST

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 September 1945, Page 5

GESTAPO BLACK LIST

NOTABLES IN BRITAIN “VICTORY” ARRESTS PLANNED LONDON, Sept. 14. “Leaders and lesser known persons in almost every phase of British life figured in a black list of 2300 persons compiled by the Gestapo as part of Germany’s plans for the invasion of England in 1940,” says the Berlin correspondent of the Associated Press. “The list, which was found in the Berlin headquarters of the Reich security police, detailed all those whose arrest was to be automatic after the Wehrmacht’s victory. “The Earl of Harewood was the only name listed in Royal Family circles. Politicians figured prominently among the wanted, and included Mr. Churchill and members of his wartime Cabinet. Mr. Chamberlain, Mr. Attlee, Sir Walter Citrine, Mr. Hugh Dalton, Mr. Dingle Foot, Mr. HoreBelisha, Mr. George Lansbury, the Duchess of Atholl, Mr. William Gallacher, Lady Megan Lloyd George, and Lord Pethick-Lawrence. . “Prominent among the diplomats were Lord Halifax, Sir Alexander Cadogan, and Lord Vansittart. Newspaper representatives included Lord Beaverbrook, Lord Camrose, Mr. J. L. Garvin, and Sir Phillip Gibbs. Foreigners listed included the film producer Sir Alexander Korda. The list embraces names that are household words, ranging from Aldous Huxley to the sculptor, Jacob Epstein, and the cartoonist, David Low. “Also on the Gestapo list were executives of the exiled Governments, key administrators in the British universities, and those prominent in Masonic lodges, Oddfellows, Rotary International, the Fabian Society, the P.E.N. Club, the Society of Friends, the Y.M.C.A., the Anglican Church, co-operative societies, Friends of the Soviet Union and trade unions. Other names taken at random from the list are those of Lady Astor; the late Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scout movement 1 ; Mr. Duncan Sandys and Mr. Vic. Oliver, sons-in-law of Mr. Churchill; Noel Coward, Dame Sybil Thorndike, and Paul Ro-, beson. Well-known journalists and broadcasters were included in the list. “I hope you will tell the Communists about this,” said Lady Astor to an interviewer. “It is a complete answer to the terrible lie that the so-called ‘Cliveden Set’ was pro-Fascist.” “The German black list might indicate to some of those who now. find themselves on it that their views, which were divergent from mine, were somewhat misplaced,” commented Lord Vansittart.

OCCUPIED GERMANY. BRITISH CONCESSIONS (Rec. 11.35 a.m.) BERLIN, September 14. Official approval has been given for the Germans to form political parties in the British zone, in accordance with the Potsdam promise, says the Associated Press. Any groups desirous of forming district political parties must apply to the Military Government, submitting draft of rules, detailed description of the proposed members, and methods of finance. .Military Government courts may impose the death penalty on conviction of any person who uses political activities to undermine the political Government’s authority or create a dissension among the AJlied Powers. In accordance with instructions by Marshal Montgomery, restrictions on the right of assembly has also been considerably relaxed; Application must be made to the Military Government, however, before any public .gathering, designed for political purposes can be held. The present disorganisation of Germany makes impossible the establishment of any election machinery, so in the intermediary stage, popular representation by nominated councils is envisaged. It may be a year before elected councils i can be set up. BLACK MARKET DANGER. (Rec. 11 a.m.) LONDON, September 14. General Eisenhower issued an order prohibiting American troops from bartering, selling or exchanging any article issued or sold by the Army, purchasing German rationed goods, and paying over the legal price for unrationed goods. General Eisenhower’s order mentioned petrol and cigarettes, and added that the European theatre faced a serious black market threat. It was a menace to the United States control of German economy, and it encouraged theft and robbery.