Himmler asks peace
Offer of surrender must include Russia, U.S., Britain tell Nazis
LONDON, England (UP) – The government today took official cognizance, without affirmation or denial, of a report that Heinrich Himmler had offered to guarantee the unconditional surrender of Germany to America and Britain – excluding Russia – and had received a blunt rejection.
A statement from No. 10 Downing Street, apparently written by Prime Minister Churchill, hinted that some offer of capitulation might be received from the Nazis at any time.
In Washington, the White House disclaimed knowledge of the reported German peace offer, but made clear that when unconditional surrender comes it must be offered to all of the Allies.
The exceptional procedure of issuing such a statement, coupled with its assertion that the government had no information on the subject “at this moment,” suggested that Mr. Churchill might be standing by for any proposal.
The report on which the official statement was based said that Himmler, German interior minister and Gestapo chief, offered to guarantee the unconditional surrender of Germany to the United States and Britain.
In the words of the Downing Street statement, the report added that the Western Allies “replied, saying that they will not accept unconditional surrender except on behalf of all the Allies including Russia.”
Message quoted
The version of the report as broadcast by the Allied-controlled Luxembourg radio and recorded here by the BBC said:
The following message has been conveyed to the foreign ministers of the United States, Great Britain and Russia.
Heinrich Himmler has sent a message in which he guarantees the unconditional surrender of Germany to the United States and Great Britain. The governments of the United States and Great Britain have replied that unconditional surrender will only be accepted if the offer is addressed to all the Allies.
Report not denied
Soon after the Luxembourg broadcast, No. 10 Downing Street, official residence of the Prime Minister, issued the formal statement on the report.
Nowhere did the statement say that the report was false. The implication appeared to be that it might be true. The statement said only that the government had no information to give about it.
It concluded with a reiteration of the oft-expressed Allied policy:
It must be emphasized that only unconditional surrender to the three major powers will be entertained, and that the closest accord prevails between the three powers.
Warning renewed
Thus was renewed implicitly the warning to the remnants of Germany that there was no need to try the old dodge of playing the Anglo-Americans against the Russians.
In the past, Himmler has been reputed to feel that Germany should make a deal with Russia, whereas the other Nazi leaders favored the Western powers.
Himmler himself has faded away in the fog shrouding the twilight of Nazism. He has been rumored dead on several occasions recently. It was impossible to ascertain how he might have made the reported offer to the Allies.
White House: ‘Nothing to say’
WASHINGTON (UP) – The White House today disclaimed knowledge of an official German peace offer, but made clear that when unconditional surrender comes it be offered to all of the Allies.
White Press Secretary Jonathan Daniels, in response to inquiries about reports from Europe that Germans had offered to surrender to the United States and Great Britain, but not to Russia, said:
It is clear at a time like this that there will be lots of rumors, and it is equally clear that there can be no offer of unconditional surrender that does not include all the Allies.
This government has nothing to say at this time.
Under questioning, Mr. Daniels said he knew nothing about any peace proposals from Europe.
Acting Secretary of State Joseph C. Grew said he had nothing to say at this time on the reported surrender offer.
It was learned, however, that the State Department’s European experts had been called into a special meeting early today. Purpose of the emergency session was not disclosed, but the group included department experts on Germany and Allied plans for post-war control of the defeated enemy country.