Nobel Prize Prisoner

Nobel Prize Prisoner

Not because Carl von Ossietzky is a Pacifist, not forgetting that during the War he fought bravely for Germany, but unwilling to forgive him for having published in 1929--three years before Adolf Hitler came to power--an article accusing the German Army of spending too much money, the Nazis in 1933 jugged Carl von Ossietzky in a prison camp. Last week Berlin correspondents put up the plea that since Herr von Ossietzky had just been awarded the $40,000 Nobel Peace Prize (TIME, Nov. 30), perhaps, as a great favor, the Ministry for Propaganda & Public Enlightenment would authorize them to interview the Prizeman in a sanatorium to which the Government had hastily transferred him from the prison camp. Secret Service and Propaganda Ministry officials were present at the interview and a Nazi doctor ominously warned. "Herr von Ossietzky is in a far more critical condition than he appears to realize."

Looking thin and sounding tired, but in high spirits, Herr von Ossietzky chirped, "I count myself as belonging to a party of sensible Europeans who regard the armaments race as insanity. If the German Government will permit, I will be only too pleased to go to Norway to receive the Prize and in my acceptance speech I will not dig up the past or say anything which might result in discord between Germany and Norway."

Unhappily the discord was already far advanced. The entire German Press had been thundering for days that the Nobel award to a "traitor" was an "insult" to Germany, hinted strongly that Der Fuehrer might break off diplomatic relations with the Kingdom of Haakon VII. In Oslo the Norwegian Foreign Minister, Dr. Halvdan Koht, had taken such precautions as he could. When the Nobel Peace Prize Committee, of which he was a member, appeared likely to pick Carl von Ossietzky, Dr. Koht resigned from the committee. Into his office last week raged the German Minister to Sweden, Prince Viktor zu Wied. To his heated protests Dr. Koht replied, "The Norwegian Government is not responsible. You may address yourself to the Nobel Peace Prize Committee." Next morning Nazi newspapers featured "this Norwegian insult," declared that in any case Ossietzky will have to surrender his $40,000 to the German Government, which may or may not let him have the equivalent of this sum in marks.

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