WHEN I returned to Berlin, varied news awaited me.
One was the surprising information that suave Carl
Boehmer, chief spokesman for the Propaganda Ministry, had
been arrested by the Gestapo and thrown into a concentration
camp. The man, who had been disliked even by his Nazi com-
panions, had become drunk at an official party and told the
Bulgarian Ambassador that Germany was planning to attack
Russia.

"Since the Bulgarian official didn't know about that, he went
to Ribbentrop and demanded more information," Howard
told me. " Ribbentrop was excited and angry since the brag-
ging Boehmer had disclosed an official secret. He was immedi-
ately imprisoned."

I asked Howard if the story had been sent to the United
States.

"No," he said, "no one has dared to use it."

Relations between the United States and Germany were
more critical than ever before and threatened to become worse.
The United States had just frozen the funds of all German
nationals in the United States and ordered the closing of all
German consulates, Transocean news service, and the German
Travel Agency.

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