862.00/5–1945: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Caffery)
2230. For Murphy from Matthews. Reurtel 2815, May 1989 and previous. We are informed that War Department has sent instructions for arrest of Dönitz and associates. We are strongly in favor of this action and feel that these individuals should be closely held pending a decision whether they will stand trial as war criminals. Public opinion in this country is becoming considerably aroused over [Page 783] this matter and criticism is not directed solely against the military authorities. The Department is unable to understand why Dönitz and his group were permitted for so many days freely to continue in their pretense of functioning as a government of Germany.
It also seems important to us to round up as quickly as possible all officers of whatever rank held by us who were members of the German General Staff. This is in accordance with the revised JCS 106790 and we feel that it should be implemented as rapidly as possible. In carrying out this action, it seems to us that all General Staff officers, regardless of rank would through their training and experience be useful in reviving German militarism and should be arrested. [Matthews.]