Page 10 of The Righteous
FOLLOWING LUNCH, brODERICK arranged for a car to take Julia, Theresa, and Teddy back to the Treasury Building for their afternoon meeting with John Pehle.
They waited in Teddy’s office, hoping that John wouldn’t be late and he’d be able to give them a little time.
Theresa hoped he would have some of the answers she was seeking.
“Wait until you meet him,” Teddy said. “He’s a terrific guy, and he’s not much older than we are.
In his mid-thirties, I think. He went to Creighton and Yale Law School.
He smokes a calabash pipe, and he looks like the pictures of Sherlock Holmes in the books.
” He nodded in Julia’s direction and said, “And he’s very good looking, but he’s spoken for. Sorry, Julie.”
“He’s a Midwesterner?” Julia said.
Teddy nodded. “Omaha. He’s very close friends with the secretary of the treasury, Henry Morgenthau.
The secretary appointed John and a couple of his colleagues to head up a division they call Foreign Funds Control, the unit that I am working in right now.
The group is trying to tap into Treasury funds and send money to refugee organizations in European countries where the Jewish population is fighting for its life.
There is presently no US agency that is doing that.
There are several small charitable organizations that are funding relief efforts, but nothing on a large scale.
In fact, John will tell you that our government hasn’t taken any official position on the plight of the refugees.
You would think that would be the business of the State Department, but they refuse to do anything to aid Jewish refugees.
That’s why John is here at Treasury and not at State. ”
“As long as there are influential men like Breckinridge Long, aren’t your hands tied as well?” Julia asked.
“Oh, you’d be surprised. I’m so excited to hear about the report that John and Joe DuBois are writing. Sometimes reports can change people’s minds.”
At three o’clock, Teddy’s office intercom buzzed, and he was told that John Pehle was now in his office on the third floor, and he would have a short time to visit with them.
“A short time?” Theresa said. “I came all this way for a short interview?”
Teddy shrugged. “He is very busy with the report and all. I suppose we are lucky that he has any time for us.”
Pehle rose from his seat as Julia, Theresa, and Teddy entered the room. Pehle reached out his hand to Julia and said, “It is my pleasure to meet you, Miss Powers. You are an American hero. I’ve never met someone who has been awarded a Distinguished Service Medal.”
Teddy cleared his throat. John nodded and smiled. “Except, of course, for Theodore.”
“I appreciate the kind words, Mr. Pehle,” Julia said, “and I’d like to introduce my good friend Theresa Weissbach.”
“Yes, of course, the university professor who wishes to learn about her family back in Hungary. How do you do, Professor Weissbach?”
“I am fine, thank you, Mr. Pehle. The reason I requested a meeting with you is because I have no information about my family. I haven’t heard about the health or welfare of my family or the folks in my community in well over a year.
My family lives in Budapest, and as of my last communication, they were unharmed, but conditions change so rapidly.
I have had absolutely no information since then. ”
Pehle nodded with a solemn face.
“My father is a noted surgeon at Semmelweis University Hospital,” Theresa continued.
“My uncle and my father are both on the board of directors of the largest synagogue in Hungary.” She took a breath.
“I have several cousins and friends who are also well connected and gainfully employed in what was once a prosperous and successful Jewish community. I have no reason to believe that they are in harm’s way, except that they border Germany and that Hungary sits in the middle of a continent controlled by Nazi oppressors. ”
“Hmm,” John said. “That’s very disconcerting, isn’t it?”
Theresa nodded. “The last I heard, there were no roundups, transports, or mass murders taking place in Hungary. I am hoping that you have current information and can confirm that the situation hasn’t deteriorated.”
Pehle pulled on his lip and gave a quick nod.
“I’m afraid I don’t have much current information.
As far as I know, the situation is unchanged.
At this time, we don’t have very reliable contacts in Hungary.
We hope that’s going to change. Right now, the borders are tightly controlled, the communication lines are down, and they are in the center of Eastern Europe, surrounded by German-occupied countries.
If the State Department has more information, they are not sharing.
From time to time, we receive reports through MI5 or a Soviet contact we have, but they lack detail and are unverified.
Off and on, over the past couple of years, discriminatory laws have been enacted limiting Jewish privileges, but basic freedoms still exist. The Jewish community in Budapest is large, strong, and financially influential.
I have no reason to believe that the Jewish people are in imminent danger.
We know that is quite different from the Jewish population in Romania and France, and that is where our committee is focusing our efforts.
Of those on my committee, I don’t believe that anyone is intimately familiar with Budapest or Hungary. ”
“I am familiar with Hungary,” Theresa said, “and I would like to assist your committee in some way. I am happy to evaluate a report and fill in any missing information where applicable. I am glad to offer whatever assistance I can provide.”
Pehle raised his eyebrows. “I appreciate your offer, Professor. What is your availability over the next few weeks?”
“I have a class in European history starting on January 20, but I have a research assistant who can fill in for me, if necessary.”
“As you may know, my committee is currently working on a study, and we intend to report our results to the president. In large part, it concerns the Jewish communities throughout Europe, and Hungary is a significant part of that population. We are aware that right now Hungary has the largest Jewish community in all of Europe. By far.”
“Almost a million,” Theresa said. “That makes it vulnerable, doesn’t it, Mr. Pehle?”
“It certainly does, but no adverse steps have been taken so far, which seems strange to us. Since the Wannsee Declaration, the Nazis have pledged to make Europe free of all Jews. That places Hungary in the crosshairs. As far as we can figure, Hungary has been a loyal ally of Germany’s.
They have fought together on the battlefield.
Hungary has lost over two hundred thousand soldiers in Germany’s war against the Soviet Union.
For that reason, we believe, Berlin has not pressured Hungary’s president to do anything to its Jewish citizens. ”
“That would be Admiral Horthy,” Theresa said. “He doesn’t like being told what to do by other countries. While most have bowed down to Berlin, Horthy has not. I think he stands alone in not following Hitler’s racial orders.”
Pehle shrugged. “Hungary’s neighbors have each enacted Hitler’s racial orders.
Hungary is an exception, but we don’t know whether Horthy has ever received a direct order from Berlin regarding Jews.
If he does, will he honor it, and will the racial situation stay the same? There are signs it may not.”
“I spoke with Marcus Hertzl on the telephone recently,” Julia said. “He said he was a member of your group.”
“He is, and I know that he spoke with you. Marcus is gathering information on Romania and France.”
“He had some recent information about Hungary as well, but limited,” Julia said.
“He told me that Horthy replaced his prime minister because he was becoming subservient to Germany. So, Horthy replaced him with Miklós Kállay. Kállay agreed to support the Axis armies against Russia, but he is determined to keep Nazi racial policies out of Hungary.”
“That’s true, but the war with Russia is going badly for Germany and the Axis countries, including Hungary. Because of that, Kállay sent a secret message to Washington indicating a willingness to open peace negotiations.”
“He was willing to strike a peace accord with the US and the Allies?” asked Theresa in a surprised tone.
“That’s what we heard, but given the current posture of our State Department, when they received Kállay’s peace feeler, it went nowhere. It was disregarded. Thrown away.”
“That seems unbelievable. Why wouldn’t the State Department follow up on those peace feelers?”
“Why does our State Department do anything? I don’t know.
A larger problem now exists for Hungary.
We don’t know whether Berlin has discovered that Kállay made those contacts.
On the one hand, Hitler wants to keep Hungary on his side, so thus far he has refrained from issuing demands on Horthy, including orders to the Hungarian Jewish community.
On the other, Berlin doesn’t trust Kállay or Horthy.
Hitler could change his mind and move on Hungary at his will.
Can you imagine the upheaval in trying to round up and transport one million Jews to some detention camp? ”
“We’ve seen it,” Julia said, “albeit on a smaller scale.”
Pehle stood, a sign that the meeting was over. “I’m sorry to cut this short,” he said, “but I have given you all I know about Hungary, and I have to run. As you may know, I am working on a project.”
Teddy stepped forward. “I know about the project, John. Are you speaking of the report that you and Joe are preparing?”
“Yes. We’re almost done. We hope to have it finished, maybe even tomorrow.”
A smile broke out on Teddy’s face, and he said, “Tomorrow’s the day? Delivery day? I can’t wait.”
Pehle gave a sharp nod. “Hell or high water. Joe will bring it here tomorrow morning, and we will give it a final edit. You’re welcome to review it with us.
No one knows European refugees any better.
We have a meeting to present it to the secretary in the afternoon. Like you said, ‘Special delivery!’”
“God bless it,” said Teddy. “I’ll be here.”