POLITICAL PRISONERS IN GERMANY [To the Editor of THF. SPECTATOR.]

SIR,—In the early days of the present regime in Germany it was realized that many thousands of Liberals, SoCialists, Communists, Pacifists and JewiSh intellectuals were being detained in concentration camps and suffered gravely from ill-treatment. It is perhaps not now equally appreciated that, in spite of the widely announced amnesty at Hindenburg's death, the same state of affairs persists today. It is in fact even more serious, for the Propaganda Ministry : and the Ministry of Justice have made the amnesty the occasion for declaring that concentration camps are now so unim- portant " a part of' German life that it is no longer desirable to allow strangers access to any of them.

The impression is thus attempted to be given that prisoners are few and all is well with them. This is far from being the case. The numbers are still many and include several notable people. Among these are for instance : . .

Ernst Thaelmann, now after 18 months shortly to be tried in the " People's " Court.

Ernst Torgler, acquitted at Leipzig in the Reichstag Fire Trial. Carl von Ossietski, formerly editor of the pacifist weekly, Die IV eltbuenhe.

Dr. Carl Mierendorf, formerly Social-Democratic Member of the Reichstag.

Fritz Kuester, former President of the " Deutsche Friedens- gesellschaft." Dr. Hans Litten, the non-party lawyer who defended worker* before the Courts between 1928 and 1932.

Dr. Theo. Neubauer, former Communist. Member of the Reichstag whose release was promised several months ago.

Ludwig Renn, the world-famous author of War and other pacifist novels.

There are also still in detention many persons who are not accused of activities hostile to the German Government but who are kept as hostages for other members of their family. Among them are :

Frau Else Steinfurth. widow of the Communist Member of the Prussian Diet put to death by the Nazis in February last. Her health is such that unless released she is not expected to survive long.

Frau Centa Beimler, whose husband escaped from the camp at Dachau ; also her sister and young nephew.

Frau Annemarie Jacobs, a nurse.

Frau Cilly Nadolny, the young wife of a Communist militant who was arrested when enquiring after the fate of her husband.

There is further, only too good reason for believing that several of these people—men and women—have been seriously ill-treated in prison either with a view to obtaining information or of intimidating their relatives.—Yours,

HENRY W. NEVINSON, G. P. GOOCH, MARY AGNES HAMILTON, WINIFRED HOLTBY, JOHN MACMUIULtV, A. MAUDE HOYDEN.

4 Downside Crescent, Hampstead, Nil% 3.