"Philadelphia Inquire"
April 7, 1940
FIRST REICH ENVOY
ICE 1907 IN CITY
Official's Presence
Here Three Months
Remains Mystery
Philadelphia woke up yesterday to
the fftct that Germany, for the first
time in 33 years, has put the city on
its diplomatic map—a dot with a
Circle around it.
Why the Nazi regime should have
seen fit to accredit this seaport city,
now that its trade with the Reich is
virtually dead, remained a mystery,
bur the fact remained   that since
January, the German consular
offices here have been occupied by
nothing less than an Envoy Ex-
traordinary and Minister Plenipo-
tentiary.
PRESENCE UNNOTICED
Previously, Germany had been rep-
resented here by an honorary consul.
The new envoy is Erich Windcls,
German Minister to Canada until
the outbreak of the current war. He
arrived here so quietly, nearly three
months ago. that his presence at the
Drake went completely unnoticed-
He vanished again for a brief stay
at Pinehurst a few weeks later, leav-
ing none the wiser until his return.
Middle-aged, partly bald, he has
gray eyes that sparkle when he
smiles, and a sharp nose and thin
lips. Rimless spectacles give him the
look of an American businessman,
and his faultless English never belies
It. His duties so far, Wlndels said,
have been purely routine. Asked why
his Government had sefit him here,
he commented:
"Our Governments do not usually
give us reasons—just orders."