The First Casualty

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Re: Nikola Tesla

File No. 2121-70

TOP SECRET

February 3, 1943

To: William Donovan, Director, Office of Strategic Services

From: J. Edgar Hoover

Bill:

The Bureau has completed its search of the effects of the above-styled, including a War Powers Act secret order to drill and inspect his bank box. We searched the two rooms he occupied at the Hotel New Yorker within hours of his death. We have found no evidence of contact of any sort with an Axis power. Of course, it is unlikely the subject would have left evidence of treason lying around.

We did find the names in his address book of members of both the Swiss and Swedish Embassies here in Washington. Unfortunately, neither man is still here, both being sent to other postings in late 1942. Both embassies disclaim any knowledge or record any contact between their staff and the subject, and both are equally disinclined to allow the Bureau to pursue the matter. I don’t think either of us expected a lot of help from pantywaist neutrals anyway.

The only thing of possible interest we turned up was a Railway Express Agency receipt for what appears to be a large package shipped from New York to the Savannah, Georgia, offices of Norddeutscher Lloyd. See below as to why the subject went to the trouble to send something to the shipping company in Georgia when the company had offices here in New York until the United States became involved in the war when, as an enemy alien corporation, it ceased operation on U.S. soil in early 1942.

We interviewed Kolman Cazo, one of the subject’s assistants, who is presently in infantry training at Fort Ord, California. Although his memory is not as clear as we might wish, he said the subject frequently sent packages to relatives in Croatia. Subject believed the U.S. government had been intercepting and reading his mail and spying on him ever since the military declined to purchase subject’s so-called “Death Ray.” He went to great lengths to avoid observation. Cazo remembered subject originally demanded he (Cazo) carry a large package by train to Savannah but relented and allowed it to go by R.E.A. He has no idea what might have been in the package but he was quite sure its final destination was Croatia, not Germany. Subject told him it was canned goods and clothing for his family there.

I regret not to have more specific information, but I believe we have no evidence that the subject gave aid or comfort of any sort to the enemy, nor do we have reason to believe he shared any information of military value.

Don’t hesitate to call if I or the Bureau can be of further assistance. Give my warmest regards to Ruth.

J. Edgar