The Pittsburgh Press (April 24, 1941)
NAZIS JUSTIFY FLIER’S ESCAPE
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Berlin denounces U.S. in war prisoner’s case
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Baron Franz von Werra, escapes to South America.
Berlin, April 24 (UP) –
Authorized Nazi quarters said today that Baron Franz von Werra, 26, German military flier who escaped from a Canadian prison, had been justified in decamping from the United States because “the United States no longer recognizes the principles of international law.”
The Department of Justice at Washington reported Tuesday that von Werra had fled to South America and termed it a “flagrant abuse” of United States hospitality.
The Nazis said:
The facts in the case are that he was released on a $10,000 bond. Meanwhile, another case came up in which two German naval officers were handcuffed and handed over to Canada.
Von Werra saw that the word “hospitality” evidently was accompanied by dangers for German war prisoners and that this concept of international law no longer has any meaning to the United States.
The attitude of those presently in power in the United States as evidenced by these action as well as by the occupation of Greenland contrary to all international law fully justified von Werra’s flight.