1st September, 1942.

Foreign Office Reference: K.W. 2/4 26/8/42.

Translation.

R.14742

Memorandum.

        With reference to the Legation's memoranda No.441 and No.688 of March 25 and May 1, 1942, respectively regarding Oflag IXA, the Foreign Ministry have the honour to inform the Swiss Legation as follows:-

        (1) The accommodation's capacity of Oflag IX A is:

                Upper Camp: room for 200 officers and 35 orderlies.

                Lower Camp: room for 220 officers and 35 orderlies.

        The staff officers, who were originally quartered only in the Upper Camp, are now distributed among the best rooms in the Upper and Lower Camps.

        According to the reports, the actual occupants amounted to:-

        The 45 officers of the Royal Air Force originally in the Oflag were transferred on April 30, 1942, to Sagen Prisoners of War Camp; in addition three officers of the Royal Navy and one officer of the British merchant service were transferred on May 28, 1942, to Marlag and Milag Nord.

        The prescribed accommodation capacity for 420 officers is entirely adequate. At present there are about 30 vacancies in the Upper Camp.

        (2) The competent German authorities have instructed the District Defence Command to investigate the settlement of the heating question.

        (3) In the remittance of money payments by prisoners of war, a distinction is to be drawn between:-

                (a) Despatch of foreign currency brought with them by prisoners of war into imprisonment.

                (b) Remittance of mark amounts which have been saved.

                        As regards (a) there is a possibility of despatch through the channel of the Deutsche Bank;

                        As regards (b) officers in each individual case must submit an application to remit. The Supreme Command of the Defence Forces thereupon procures a decision by the Reich Economic Ministry.

        (4) Supernumerary clergymen of the rank of army chaplains, if they voluntarily report themselves as such, are transferred to Stalags to exercise the cure of souls as far as there exists need therein. At the end of each quarters of the year there is a readjustment of the chaplains. It has nevertheless been established that frequently there is no wish among prisoners of war for spiritual care.

        (5) British prisoners of war are forbidden to keep French, Italian or Spanish newspapers.

        (6) It is regretted that the desire to utilise the municipal sports ground cannot at present be met.

        (7) The careful examination of four novels would engage the competent authority to such an extent that approval of further transmission must be left out of the question.

        (8) Orders have been given for General Fortune's batman to be allocated to him again.

        As regards the points under No.(3) of the note of May 1, 1942, and No (3) of the note of March 25, 1942, the Foreign Ministry will communicate their views later.

Berlin,

June 22, 1942.