devil’s advocate. None of us, least of all you, Mr. Secretary, have the
time to waste
Hull looked over at the undersecretary, moving his swivel chair as he did
so. “Let’s make the time. Please continue, General.”
“Thank you, Mr. Secretary. A month ago word was relayed through Lisbon that
Kroeger wanted to make contact with us. Channels were arranged and we
expected the normal procedures to be followed. . . . Instead Kroeger
rejected these procedures-refused any contact with British or French
units-insisted on direct communication with Washington.”
“If I may?” Brayduck’s tone was courteous. “I don’t think thaVs an abnormal
decision. We’re the predominant factor, after all.”
“It was abnormal, Mr. Brayduck, insofar as Kroeger
7
would communicate with no one other than a Major Canfield… Major Matthew
Canfield who is, or was, an efficient minor officer in Army Intelligence
stationed in Washington.”
Brayduck held his pipe motionless and looked at the brigadier general.
Cordell Hull leaned forward in his chair, his elbows resting on the desk.
“There’s no mention of this in your memorandum.”
“I realize that, sir. I omitted it in the conceivable event that the
memorandum might be read by someone other than yourself.”
“You have my apologies, General.” Brayduck was sincere.
Ellis smiled at the victory.
Hull leaned back in his chair. “A ranking member of the Nazi High Command
insists upon communicating only with an obscure major in Army Intelligence.
Most unusuall” ,
“Unusual, but not unheard of. . . . We’ve all known German nationals; we
merely assumed that Major Canfield had met Kroeger before the war. In
Germany.”
Brayduck stepped forward toward the brigadier. “Yet you tell us that
Kroeger may not be a German. Therefore between Kroeger’s request from
Lisbon and your memorandum to the secretary something changed your minct.
What was it? Canfield?”
“Major Canfield is a competent, at times excellent Intelligence officer. An
experienced man. However, since the channel between him and Kroeger was
opened, hes displayed marked tendencies of being under emotional strain.
He’s become extremely nervous and hasn!t functioned in the manner of an
officer with his background and experience…. He has also, Mr. Secretary,
instructed me to make a most unusual request of the president of the United
States.”
“Which is?”
“That a classified file from the archives of the State Department be
delivered to him with the seals unbroken, before be makes contact with
Heinrich Kroeger.”
Brayduck took his pipe from his mouth, about to object.
“Just one minute, Mr. Brayduck.” Brayduck may be brilliant, thought Hull,
but did he have any idea of what it meant to a career officer such as Ellis
to face the two
8
of them and make a statement? For his statement was an undisguised petition
for the White House and the State Department to seriously consider granting
Canfield’s request. Many officers would have rejected the illegal prop-
osition rather than allow themselves to be placed in such a position. That
was the army way. “Am I correct in assuming that you recommended the release
of this file to Major Canfield?”
“That judgment would have to be yours. I only point out that Heinrich
Kroeger has been instrumental in every important decision made by the Nazi
hierarchy since its inception.”
“Could the defection of Heinrich Kroeger shorten the war?”
“I don’t know. The possibility brought me to your office.”
“What is the file this Major Canfield demands?” Brayduck was annoyed.
“I know cuily the number and the classification stated by the archives
section of the State Department.”
“What are they?” Cordell Hull again leaned forward on his desk.
Ellis hesitated. It would be inviting personal as well as professional
embarrassment to state the terms of the file without giving Hull the data
on Canfield. He would have been able to do that had Brayduck not been
there. Goddamn college boys. Ellis was always uncomfortable with the fast
talkers. Dskmnl he thought. He’d be direct with Hull.
“Before I answer you, may I take the opportunity to fill in some background
material I believe is most relevant…. Not only relevant, air, but
intrinsic to the file itself.”
“By all means.” Hull wasn’t sum whether he was irritated or fascinated.
“The final communication from Heinrich Kroeger to Major Canfield demands a
preliminary meeting with someone identified only as . . . April Red. This
meeting is to take place in Bem, Switzerland, prior to any negotiations
between Kroeger and Canfield.”
‘Who is April Red, General? I gather from the tone of your voice that you
have an idea who he may be.” Very little was lost on Undersecretary
Brayduck, and Brigadier Ellis was painfully aware of the fact.
9
“We or more specifically . . . I think I do.” Ellis opened the white folder
in his hands and flipped the top page over the cardboard. “If I may have
the secretar3es permission, I have extracted the following from Major
Canfield’s security check.”
“Of course., General,”
“Matthew Canfield-entered government service, De
partment of the Interior, in March, nineteen seventeen.
Education — one year University of Oklahoma, one and
one-half years night school extension courses, Washing
ton, D.C. Employed as a junior accountant government
frauds section of interior. Promoted to field accountant
in nineteen eighteen. Attached to Group Twenty division,
which, as you know . . ”
Cordell Hull interrupted quietly. -A small, highly trained unit assigned to
conflicts of interests, misappropnations, et cetera, during the First World
War. Very effective too… Until. as most such units, it became overly
impressed with itself. Disbanded in. twenty-nine or thirty, I believe.”
“In nineteen thirty-two, Mr. Secretary.” General Ellis was pleased that he
had the facts at his command. He nipped a second page over the top of the
folder and continued to read.
‘~Canfield remained with Interior for a period of ten years, rising four
pay grades. Superior performance. Excellent rating. In May of nineteen
twenty-seven he resigned from gove ment service to enter employment with
the Scarlatti Industries.”
At the mention of the name ScarlattL both Hull and Brayduck reacted as if
stung.
doWhich Of the S=latd companlesr,
-Executive Officezi, five twenty-five Fifth Avenue. New York.”
Cordell Hull toyed with the thin black cord of his pince~nez. “Quite a jimp
for our Mr. Canfield. From night scliodl in Washington to the executive
offices of smiatti.” He glanced downward, taking his eyes off the generaL
“is Scarlatti one of the corporations you referred to in your memorandum?”
Brayduck was impatient
Before the brigadier could answer, Cordell Hull rose from his chair. Hull
was tall and imposin& Much larger
10
than the other two. “General Ellis, I instruct you not to answer any further
questionsi”
Brayduck looked as though he’d been slapped. He stared at Hull, confused
and startled by the secretary’s order to the brigadier. Hull returned his
gaze and spoke softly.
“My apologies, Mr. Brayduck. I cannot guarantee it, but I hope to have an
explanation for you later in the day. Until then, will you be so kind as to
leave us alone?”
“Of course.” Brayduck knew that this good and honest old man had his
reasons. “No explanation is necessary, sir.”
“However, one is deserved.”
“Thank you, Mr. Secretary. You may be assured of my confidence regarding
this meeting.”
Hull’s eyes followed Brayduck until the door was closed. He then returned
to the brigadier general, who stood quietly, not comprehending.
“Undersecretary Brayduck is an extraordinary public servant. My dismissing
him is not to be construed as a reflection on either his character or his
work.”
“Yes, sir.”
Hull slowly and in some pain sat down once more in bis chair. “I asked Mr.
Brayduck to leave because I believe I may know something of what you’re
about to discuss. If I’m right~ ifs best we be alone.”
The brigadier general was unsettled. He did not think it possible for Hull
to know.
“Don’t be alarmed, General. rm no mind reader. . . . I was in the House of
Representatives during the period you speak of. Your words evoked a memory.
An almost forgotten memory of a very warm afternoon in the House. . . . But
perhaps I’m in error. Please continue where you left off. I believe our
Major Canfield had entered employment with the Scarlatti Industries. . . .
A most unusual step, I think you’ll agree.”
“There is a logical explanation. Canfield married the widow of Ulster
Stewart Scarlett six months after Scarlett’s death in Zurich, Switzerland,
in nineteen twentysix. Scarlett was the youngest of two surviving sons of
Giovanni and Elizabeth ScarlattL founders of the Scarlatti Industries.”
Cordell Hull briefly closed his eyes. “Go on.”
‘VIster Scarlett and his wife Janet Saxon Scarlett had a son, Andrew
Roland, subsequently adopted by Matthew Canfield after his marriage to
Scarlett’s widow. Adopted but not separated from the Scarlatti estates….
Canfield continued in’the employ of Scarlatti until. August, nineteen
forty, when he returned to government service and was commissioned in Army
Intelligence.”
General Ellis paused and looked over the folder at Cordell Hull. He