Alexander Foote - Handbook for Spies

The following are the five documents quoted in the Royal Commission's report. (Double underlining indicates words erased which have been recovered.)

hermina

R.H.- 513 Grosvenor WA-lnut 3383

R.H.- 6050 Darlington AT-lantic 3724

R.H.- 4906 Queen Mary Rd. AT- 9148

14.4.44 Davie rang her up on these telephones but she was not there.

HISTORY

In December 1943 she rang up Tounkin and asked to be received on an urgent matter. T. refused, but afterwards received her. She outlined to him the gist of the matter. Tounkin inquired, but what she replied to him is not known. After that she wrote him a letter in which she wrote (9.3.44) that she had received through a reliable channel a letter from a friend in Geneva and attached it. The contents of the attached letter:

We live in the former apartment and are working as previously in the old firm. Some two weeks ago Sisi sent you a telegram. Tell us how did your journey to Gisel's parents turn out. My health is excellent. Albert is sick and will probably leave his profession for a long time, he is laid up in bed. Relations with Lucy are good, she is a very good woman. Gisel's family is for some reason no-longer interested in her, although up to this time there was support. Lucy's situation has improved. Sisi's position is sad. Please inform Gisel's parents that they must remit 6,700 dollars. This sum must be handed over through you. There are no other possibilities. The Gisels must bear these expenses. Advise me about Aleksander where is he. RACHEL

After this Pavlov, 2nd Seer, neighbour, asked his boss who, according to Pavlov, allegedly replied that this is their man and you (Pavlov) should do nothing. At the same time he asked Pavlov for her address, which he did not and does not know. To Lamont's question why they did not inform us about this for so long, Pavlov replied, I had these instructions to do nothing. Not having received a reply to the letter and the inquiries by telephone 13 April, that is on the day of Davie's journey to Hermina's city, the latter wrote a second letter to Tounkin with a request to take measures in the matter of her first letter and for convincing she attached to this letter a second letter from Rachel of the following contents:

I have received your (Hermina's) telegram of 23.1.44. Please inform Gisel's family, that she should advise Znamensky 19 that Sisi is alive and works as of old with Lucy. Lucy wanted to change the personnel, but funds ran out. Albert is sick and is not interested in business. For the work of Sisi, Gisel's family must transfer 10,000 dollars. The transfer must be made by Hermina personally through N.Y. in connection with the wishes of Mr. Helmars. R.D.

Only after receiving this letter 15.4.44 did Pavlov 17.4.44 advise Lamont that there is a certain Rabinovich. After receiving these data on 19.4. we decided to contact her by telephone, as the letter was on her letterhead and to warn her that she must not write, nor ring up, and that in two weeks Gisel's man will visit her. She was very satisfied 19. This was carried out by Leon as Davie was in Vancouver. We consider that if there is to be a transfer of money, then the money be transferred to Washington and handed over to Hermina in New York, as it is dangerous to cross the border with such a sum. For one thing our banks are not releasing American dollars.

The letters with copies of Rachel's letters have been sent by mail by Hermina and in all probability passed through the censorship, although there was no censor's stamp. The copy of the second letter, which deals with Znamensky 19, was particularly prejudicial.

Please appoint a man for future procedure, bearing in mind that Davie will not be able to go to New York and Washington. I await instructions about the next meeting, also money. We have

Home telephone- Lancaster 7628 Business- Plateau 25.07

Address: Apt. 539 Pine Av. not far from University St. (2 weeks from 19.4)

Dear Hermina,

Thank you very much indeed for your care in our affairs and we hope that you will help us in future. It is important for us to send a letter to Geneva to Sisi. Can you send this letter with a reliable man to whom you trust. All expenses will be paid. Please let us know about your proposals in this connection as soon as possible. Please inform us about delivery of your service mail to Geneva and why are you sure that it is not censored. Please wire to Rashel or Alexander that Gisel's parents arc interested about the health of Sisi and Paul and that they will help them. We ask you to forward 10,000 dollars to that watch company according to the Sisi's instructions. Make arrangements with our representative about forwarding of this sum of money to you in USA. All your personal expenses will be paid.

With best regards

Gisel

On May 5 Leon met Hermina, the latter reported:

1. The correspondence with Geneva is carried on by means of letters and telegrams. The letters are sent as part of the mail of her organisation and are not subject to scrutiny. The letters take from three weeks to a month to come. Telegrams a few days. The last letter took about one month to arrive, she does not know the exact number of days.

2. She knows not Geta A . . . but Aleksander A

. . She does not correspond with him, but she could. She knows that everything is in order with him. She also informed that in June 1941 he intended to go to Moscow but the beginning of the war interfered and he remained :: there. His visa was of 24 June.

3. She knows Sisi as a good friend and she helped her as a good acquaintance. She did not know anything about Sisi's work previously. Sisi's first letter was for me unexpected. She knows nothing of the change in Sisi's life.

4. She is completely certain that the letters were written personally by Sisi. Indications: handwriting and signature, which were well known to her.

5. The insistent request of Sisi to deposit the money in the company was unknown to her, and furthermore she does not know anybody in the said company. As for herself she considers that Sisi told the firm about me (Hermina).

Hermina will be able to deposit the money; however she would like to receive a cheque, as it is difficult to carry such a large sum over the border. Hermina enjoys rights equal to persons who have diplomatic passports.

Conduct - natural. She wrote the letters to Tounkin because Tounkin had received her very severely once, while the other requests about a meeting and the telephone conversations were rejected, which sharply contrasts with my reception in Moscow where the reception was very warm.

She considers that there is no suspicion whatsoever about her. In her opinion letters sent from her town to our town appear to be not subjected to censorship.

The regular meeting was set for 17 of May, on May 20 she leaves for Philadelphia on her own office business and could take advantage of this journey as a good pretext, for handing over the money.

Appearance: A stout woman about 45 years, lame in both legs, moves with the aid of two sticks, but at the same time drives her own car.

Conclusion: The meeting under the cover of both contacts passed entirely normally.

I request your further directives.

6.5.44 Lamont

31.7.44. Leon met Hermina, the latter reported that she had handed over the money to the owner of the firm, but he did not know anything about this money. After this she sent a telegram to A . . . and a few days later he answered her that he had not received the money. Leon advised her to send another telegram to A . . . and one to the owner of the firm.