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Brethren in Adversity Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 August 2018
1 MEMORANDUM BY BISHOP BELL, APRIL 1938
A Visit to Berlin and Hanover
April 20-22 1938
All the members of the Oecumenical delegation to the German Evangelical Church received telegrams from Bishop Marahrens on Good Friday saying that the conference planned for Easter week had become impracticable. It appeared that Lilje on the Wednesday had seen the head of the cultural department in the Foreign Office who had advised giving it up as inopportune. (English unpopular - Foreign attacks in press on Anschluss). Koechlin and I, nevertheless, after conferring on the telephone, agreed that we two should go personally and see whom we could: telling the others and leaving them to decide on their participation. As a matter of fact we went alone. I arrived on Wednesday morning April 20 - being met by a young pastor (Dr. Rose) and Diestel: Koechlin on Wednesday afternoon. We were busy from the moment of arrival till that of departure, and saw the principal Evangelical Church Leaders. The most official interviews were, (1) on Wednesday night at dinner with Diestel, where we met the Dahlem people, Diestel, Asmussen (president of the Confessional Church Council), von Thadden, Otto Dibelius and another (Gromeysen?); (2) on Thursday morning at Jebenstrasse, with Bishop Heckel and Wahl; (3) on Thursday afternoon at the Lutheran Council office, with Superintendent Breit and Fleisch; (4) on Friday morning at Hanover with Bishop Marahrens. Thus we saw officially and semiofficially all the main elements in the Church; and I also had a long talk with Böhm, in charge of the Oecumenical work for V.K.L. in hospital, and another with Frau Niemöller.
It was most encouraging that everyone made us feel most welcome - and that they were very glad that we had come, after all. It was a very good action on our part, such was the common view. The Oecumenical Council had sent its representatives, and acted up to the Oxford Resolution - even though not on the scale which had been planned. And now those who were more timid said — the delegation problem had been solved, and we believed them. Further, it was most encouraging that everyone expressed a strong desire for the continuance of the oecumenical relationship.
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