AFTER David Irving published his first book, The Destruction of Dresden, in 1963, a thirty-five year campaign of vilification began against him in the British and foreign press. At the same time certain organisations started sinister attempts to entrap him. In October 1964, a foreigner calling himself Franz Davis made one such attempt. The historian reported this immediately to the authorities. Special Branch informed Mr. Irving after taking "Davis" under surveillance that this was not his real name, and that the author's suspicions were correct. |
Dear Sir, I have had a visit this evening from a gentleman who left his name and address with me, desiring money to finance a terrorist campaign against members of the Jewish Community in this country. Yours faithfully, David Irving Special Branch, | ||||
Dear Mr. Gilbert, Further to our telephone conversation last night. 'Mr. Davis' telephoned me again at 10.23 p.m. last night to discuss his future plans. (I recorded the 5-minute conversation). He says that he has moved his belongings out of his flat in Shirland Road; that he is not now certain that he was being followed by Police; and he mentioned inter alia that he has a Volkswagen car. He arranged to meet me for a conversation tomorrow, Wednesday evening at 8.0 p.m. in the foyer of the Strand Palace Hotel, Strand W.C.2. As I wish to have no further dealings with this fellow, I intend, unless I hear to the contrary from you, to tell him so; I shall have now to do so in a manner that avoids leaving him with the impression he has obviously gained that it was I who put the police on to him. If, on the other hand, you do not wish to lose sight of Mr. Davis and his activities, I should be grateful for further instructions. Yours sincerely,
David Irving Chief Inspector Gilbert,
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Dear Mr. Gilbert, You will recall that we were in touch on the subject of one "Mr. Frank (Franz) Davis" some months ago; I have in the meantime been out of the country for four months, having sublet the above flat. I learn from the tenants on my return (on 15th April) that Davis has called on them in my absence, inquired my whereabouts, and been given the telephone number of my family in Ongar, whom he telephoned in an odd way (i.e. manner of speech) soon after. I mention this because this evening while I was having a coffee with my wife in the Coffee Inn, Park Lane, at 12.40 am (27.4.65) I caught sight of him with a colleague behind me; he was extremely well dressed in dinner jacket and black tie (not the cheap doorman's kind of dress) and his friend was as well. I believe he caught sight of me for he left at once without ordering anything, hoping no doubt I had not seen him. Then just now, at 1.20 a.m. (27.4.65) I have been disturbed by a telephone call made to this flat from an S.T.D. box; when I answered the phone there was no reply at the other end (and unlike my normal practice on this occasion I had not answered with my phone number and name, just with hello.) All this suggests that he may be up to something, and may have hoped to find the flat empty still and us out. I thought you ought to know. Yours sincerely,
David Irving Chief Inspector Gilbert, | ||||
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© Focal Point 1998   write to David Irving |
