German Foreign Minister summons Bose, 10 September 1941

No. 296 195/139208

The Dirigent of the Political Department to the Director of the Political Department

Telegram

No. 973 SPECIAL TRAIN, September 10, 1941-3:50 a.m.; Received September 10-4:10 a. m.

Through the Foreign Minister's Secretariat; with reference to U. St.S. Pol. Nr. 788 of August 18

The Foreign Minister requests that you summon M. Bose and tell him approximately the following byway of explanation:

The Foreign Minister continues to have the greatest interest in his plans, and thanks him sincerely for his letter. If in the past we had desired, and still desire, that the moment for the publication of a declaration regarding a free India should be postponed, it is connected with the situation as a whole. This made it appear to us advisable to wait until our operations in the east began to have a stronger impact on the situation m the Near East and Southern Asia. As matters stand today, a proclamation of a free India by the Axis powers might possibly have the effect that England would then occupy Afghanistan m order to consolidate her position in India, and that she would muster still additional forces to the Near East. However, we had to avoid bringing about such English measures prematurely. The Foreign Minister wanted to discuss orally with 115. Bose the opposite views expressed in his letter; as soon as the Foreign Minister was back in Berlin he would ask M. Bose to see him.

RINTELEN

From: US Department of State. Documents on German Foreign Policy, 1918-1945. Series D (1937-1945). Vol. XIII. The War Years June 23-December 11, 1941. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 1964, 472.