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Show U. S. Envoy Dies in Berlin; Nazis Voice High Tribute PRENTISS a GILBERT Difference! Are Forgotten e BERLIN, Feb. 25 (INS Prentiss Pren-tiss B. Gilbert, who aa counselor In charge of th United States embassy em-bassy ha had to handle som ef th most difficult problem In th trained relation between America and Germany, died last night ' German American difference were forgotten In th press ncs of death today as the relch foreign office lowered It flag te half-mast Dr. Hans Dleckhoff. wh waa recalled re-called from hi embassy post In Washington after Ambassador Hugh R. Wilson was summoned back to the United States, telephoned bis condolences to Mrs. Gilbert Covsrnment official also sent measagea of sympathy to ths widow, who had Just returned from Switzerland, Swit-zerland, and Monalgnor Cesar Or-ssnigo, Or-ssnigo, papal nunico, apoko for th diplomatic corps a Its dean. Pre Carrie Tribute Th foreign office Instructed all German newspaper to publish th following tribute to Gilbert: "The tragic death of an American diplomat In the midst of his work hss caussd slncsrs sorrow In Berlin. Ber-lin. "Prentiss Gilbert was honored and appreciated by all. German officialdom of-ficialdom thinks of him In honorable hon-orable remembrance, for be devoted his entire abilities to th fulfilment of hi reaponaibla task." Only last wsek, Gilbert received a personal letter from Secretary of State CordeU Hull praising him for his work In Berlin. Fifty-five years old, a veteran of th military and diplomatie service ser-vice since the Spaniah-Amarican war, Gilbert was a victim of heart disease. HI health had been poor in recent weeks, and ha was under the care of a physlclsn. The fatal attack occurred at S p. m. First Secretary Patterson, who now becomes head of the embassy in ths absence of Ambassador Hugh R. Wilson, notified the state department de-partment of Gilbert's death today. Gilbert, in spite of his 111 health, carried on the work of the embassy after Wilson was recalled to Washington Wash-ington "for consultation" following the anti-Jewish excesses In Germany Ger-many last autumn. Son of Army Officer Son of an army officer, Gilbert was born in Rochester, N. Y- October Octo-ber 1, 1SS3. Hs studlsd at Rochester, Roches-ter, Yale, Columbia and the U. 8. army war college. For a time he wa a mlns superintendent, thsn hs traveled widely through most of ths world. His government service began be-gan when he waa a special aide to th army In th Philippines during th Spanish-American war, and In th World war he ross to a position posi-tion on th gsnsral staff. Gilbert First American To Sit With League WASHINGTON, Fsb. 25 W Prentiss B. Gilbert, American diplomat dip-lomat who died In Berlin last night waa the first representative of th UnHsd States to alt on the council of th League of Nations. The council, whlls seeking to settle set-tle the Slno-Japanase war of 1131-32, 1131-32, Invited the United States to sit In en th discussions. Ths invitation invi-tation waa extended over th protest pro-test of Japan. Henry L. Btlm-son, Btlm-son, thsn sscrstary of stats, ap-pointed ap-pointed Gilbert ths American representative repre-sentative to attend the public sessions ses-sions of ths council. Gilbert served ssvsn years as Unitsd States observer to th Isagua. As consul In Geneva hs spent from 1930 to 1887 aa American liaison liai-son officer to th league and frequently fre-quently represented th United Statea In connection with Its non-political non-political activities. He waa most active during th world dlsarma-ment dlsarma-ment conference of 1M2 to 1034. In Berlin, Gilbert had delicate task to perform during difficult period of German-American relatione. rela-tione. When former Ambassador Dodd refused to attsnd ths nasi party meeting at Nuremberg, the state department instructed Gilbert to do so lnstsad. Gilbert wa In charge of the embassy em-bassy during th Hitler-Mussolini msetlngs in Munich and Berlin in September, 1837, and reported at length to th dspartmsnt on them. |