Minute from John A. Belton to Seán Murphy (Dublin)

Dr. Otto Strasser has never claimed that he has any interest in Ireland, the Irish people or any aspect of Irish life or activity. In fact when he was in Ireland last March he gave an interview to the IRISH TIMES in the course of which he stated that he had come to Dublin to meet Mr. A.K. Chesterton to discuss the formation of a new political movement ‘The League for Germany’s Renewal’.¹ Dr. Strasser had attempted to meet Mr. Chesterton in London but was refused permission to land. Dr. Strasser also stated that his League had at least 100 branches in Germany. The Ambassador’s report on Mr. Chesterton is on this file.²

In these circumstances it is clear to me at least that it is Dr. Strasser’s intention, if permitted to land in this country, to use it as a base for the development of his political ambitions. To impose on a man of Dr. Strasser’s history a condition to abstain from political activities would be useless unless (1) he were surrounded by detectives 24 hours a day and (2) his letters, telephone calls etc. were rigidly censored.

I discussed Dr. Strasser on two occasions with the German Foreign Office. You will see from my reports on file that the Foreign Office said of him that he was a Nazi and is a Nazi and was definitely persona non grata with the German Government. In fact, in the second talk I had with the German Foreign Office, they said as regards the possibility of future visits of Dr. Strasser to Ireland any action the Irish Government might feel inclined to take against him such as arrest on arrival and immediate deportation would evoke only a feeling of gratitude from the German Government.

The German Foreign Office would not be in the slightest impressed by any undertaking of Dr. Strasser and would, in my opinion, take a very unfavourable view of our giving him an opportunity to contact his friends and supporters in England and elsewhere. Our relations with the German Government are extremely good and it would be a great pity to risk them in any way being impaired by admitting Dr. Strasser from whom we have nothing whatever to gain.

I, accordingly, recommend that he should not be allowed to land in this country in any circumstances and that we notify the Department of Justice to that effect officially. I think it would be in no way an exaggeration to give as a reason for his non-admission that it would be prejudicial to good relations between Ireland and Germany.