Sol Littman's lying letter to the Prime Minister of Canada and the Deschenes Commission

On the 20th of December, 1984, Sol Littman wrote to the Prime Minister of Canada Brian Mulroney that his Center had obtained the following "information" (ie: not just allegations):

"[Josef] Mengele ... applied to the Canadian embassy in Buenos Aires for admission to Canada as a landed Immigrant in Late May or early June 1962." And that the "Simon Wiesenthal Center therefore requests an immediate investigation, ordered at the highest level."

Littman's original letter - Page 1 - Page 2

As a direct result of this letter, the government established the Deschenes Commission.  During the course of their proceedings they investigated Littman's Mengele allegations.

Initially, Littman claimed that his "documentation" had been "analyzed" by two "retired" civil servants, but that both had "exacted" from his a pledge not to reveal their names. [Deschenes Commission, Vol. 23, p3308]

Eventually, under threat of a criminal charge, he did reveal their names as Al Naylor and Corporal Fred Yetter. Under oath, Naylor testified that he had analyzed no document for Littman nor had he exacted any pledge of confidentially [Vol. 25, p3446] --- he had never seen the documentation until it was shown to his by the commission [Vol. 25, p3426]. He also testified that Littman deliberately made up his "retired" status in order to deceive the Deschenes Commission [Vol. 23, p3417]

Yetter testified that Littman had shown him some documentation but that Littman's conclusions regarding "Mengele" were entirely Littman's [Vol. 23 p3388] not his (Yetter's) "analysis."

When Littman was pressed for his evidence about Mengele applying in "Buenos Aires", Littman himself was forced to admit that this reference in his original letter was only an "assertion" ... "a very strong belief" [Vol. 24, p3363]. "One had to speculate" as to which of the hundreds of Canadian Embassies Mengele had applied, he stated. [Vol. 24, p3363] Littman had already admitted to the Prime Minister (Letter Dated 25th March 85) that his original allegations regarding Mengele adopting the alias of "Menke" were incorrect, and that in fact "Mengele had never applied to Canada and had never come to Canada" [Vol. 24, p3338]. Thus Littman was conceding that his original allegations were false.

At various times during the proceeding, Federal Government lawyer, Whitehall had heated exchanges with Littman. the most notable is when Whitehall called Littman a "Vigilante" which caused various Jewish groups in the audience to shout and become hysterical. [Vol. 24, p3363 - p3364]

The Deschenes Commission, which was specifically set up because of Littman's false assertions [Vol. 24, p3353] and has created considerable ethnic and social unrest and anxiety, propelling one group -- the Ukrainians -- to engage counsel and others to send community leaders and delegations to make representations before the Commission. Among these ethnic spokesmen was Dr. Jossip Gaumulin of the Croatian community. They fear of having an American style "Office of Special Investigations" witch in Canada.

Press Accounts

Ukrainian Echo Feb. 1986

"Littman allegation proves false" Talks about the Littman Letter to the Prime Minister, and how it turned out to be false. [Full Article]

Washington Jewish Week Nov 13, 1986

Article by Sol Littman. Littman goes on a diatribe about how the Deschenes Commission heard good evidence and "Canada become a major haven for war criminal ...". He also goes on about "inter-ethnic amity" as a reason the report will be "fiercely attacked". As though his crazy letters might not be a reason? Duh? [Full Article]

Hamilton Spectator, Dec. 7, 1985:

Talks about the false letter to the Prime Minister, Whitehall calling Littman a "vigilante", why the Commission was set up. [Full article]

Toronto Star, Dec. 5, 1985:

Talks about Littman using unfounded allegations to convince the Prime Minister to set up a commission.  Also talks about Littman going to both the Toronto Star and New York Times to get publicity for his allegations [Full Article]

Toronto Star Dec. 6, 1985:

Talks about the testimony Littman gave and quotes some good material. Also talks about Whitehall and the "Vigilante" statement. Also Whitehall says no reasonable person could come to such a conclusion. [Full Article]

Toronto Star Dec. ?, 1985:

Article on Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney setting up the Deschenes Commission on Littman false accusations. [Full Article]

Windsor Star Dec 5, 1985:

Headlined "Nazi Hunter ordered to reveal names". Article on Littman being forced to reveal names of people he supposedly talked with to get information on Mengele. It took a court order for Littman to admit the names, and when the people were questioned they rebukes Littmans assertions. [Full Article]

Toronto Star Jan 23, 1985:

Article which started the Deschenes Commission. Littman is quoted heavily. Just to rub it in Littman adds in the article "The West Germans had been searching for Mengele since the war's end ... If Canada had played heads up, we could have enticed Mengele to come to Canada and arrested him here". Funny how later we find out Littman was playing the Canadian Government and the Canadian People for fools. [Full Article - front page - Continuation on Page A17]

Globe and Mail Jan 23, 1985:

Another of the initial reports which sparked the Deschenes Commission. Littman also lies and says in the article "Documents ... leave no doubt that Mengele, using an assumed name, applied for admission to Canada in late May or early June of 1962." [Full Article]

Globe and Mail Jan 31, 1997

Littman still not satisfied is claiming Canada is a sanctuary for war criminals. According to Littman, "Canada decided as long ago as 1942 not to become involved in the issue of war crimes and in 1945 began collaborating with the U.S. and Britain 'to warehouse individuals' in Canada" I guess he forgot about the Deschenes Commission, set up because of his loose letters ... or maybe he really wants to forget? [Full Article]