Your tel. 231.¹ Raised question with Foreign Office October 25th. Official concerned said that rumour of intention to exterminate the Jews being spread by various enemy sources but that as it is pure invention and lacks all foundation the German authorities have no reason to make any statement on the subject. He added that he feels sure that if the camps in question were to be abandoned their inmates would be evacuated and not killed as Germany would have no interest in losing their labour contribution. It is unlikely that we will get any more formal declaration on this subject.