George Howard Earle III
Encyclopedia
George Howard Earle III was an American
politician
. He was great-grandson of noted abolitionist and philanthropist Thomas Earle
, grandson of Philadelphia lawyer George H. Earle, Sr., and son of Philadelphia lawyer and "financial diplomat," George H. Earle, Jr
. Earle served as the U.S. Minister
to Austria
from 1933 to 1934, and as the 30th Governor of Pennsylvania
from 15 January 1935 to 17 January 1939.
In 1943, when Earle was a United States Navy
Lieutenant Commander
and the President's special emissary to the Balkans
, he "...presented a plan to President of the United States
Franklin D. Roosevelt
(FDR) that Earle believed might end the war in Europe early. The German ambassador and the head of the German secret service secretly proposed to Earle that German troops could surround Hitler’s headquarters and turn Hitler over to the Allies as a war criminal. German troops then would be repositioned to defend against the Russian military. The plot was never approved."
In 1944, FDR assigned Earle to compile information on the Katyń massacre
, the massacre
of the Polish
intelligentsia
by the Soviet government. Earle did so, using contacts in Bulgaria
and Romania
, and concluded that the Soviet Union
was guilty.
After consulting with Elmer Davis
, the director of the Office of War Information, Roosevelt rejected Earle's conclusion, saying that he was convinced of the responsibility of Nazi Germany
, and ordered Earle's report suppressed. When Earle formally requested permission to publish his findings, the President gave him a written order to desist. Earle was reassigned and spent the rest of World War II
in American Samoa
.
After the war, "...Earle became the first governor of a US state to be divorced. In 1945, he remarried to Jacqueline Sacre of Belgium with whom he had a daughter and a son. That same year, he was appointed assistant governor of Samoa. After his term in that office he returned to private business."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. He was great-grandson of noted abolitionist and philanthropist Thomas Earle
Thomas Earle
Thomas Earle was an American journalist, lawyer, and politician.-Biography:The son of Pliny Earle, he was born in Leicester, Massachusetts....
, grandson of Philadelphia lawyer George H. Earle, Sr., and son of Philadelphia lawyer and "financial diplomat," George H. Earle, Jr
George Howard Earle, Jr.
George H. Earle, Jr. was a Philadelphia lawyer and "financial diplomat" who was highly sought after to save ailing corporations from financial ruin.-Biography:...
. Earle served as the U.S. Minister
United States Ambassador to Austria
This is a list of Ambassadors of the United States to Austria.The United States first established diplomatic relations with Austria in 1838 during the time of the Austrian Empire. Relations between the United States have been continuous since that time except for two interruptions during World War...
to Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
from 1933 to 1934, and as the 30th Governor of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
from 15 January 1935 to 17 January 1939.
In 1943, when Earle was a United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
and the President's special emissary to the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
, he "...presented a plan to President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
(FDR) that Earle believed might end the war in Europe early. The German ambassador and the head of the German secret service secretly proposed to Earle that German troops could surround Hitler’s headquarters and turn Hitler over to the Allies as a war criminal. German troops then would be repositioned to defend against the Russian military. The plot was never approved."
In 1944, FDR assigned Earle to compile information on the Katyń massacre
Katyn massacre
The Katyn massacre, also known as the Katyn Forest massacre , was a mass execution of Polish nationals carried out by the People's Commissariat for Internal Affairs , the Soviet secret police, in April and May 1940. The massacre was prompted by Lavrentiy Beria's proposal to execute all members of...
, the massacre
Massacre
A massacre is an event with a heavy death toll.Massacre may also refer to:-Entertainment:*Massacre , a DC Comics villain*Massacre , a 1932 drama film starring Richard Barthelmess*Massacre, a 1956 Western starring Dane Clark...
of the Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
intelligentsia
Intelligentsia
The intelligentsia is a social class of people engaged in complex, mental and creative labor directed to the development and dissemination of culture, encompassing intellectuals and social groups close to them...
by the Soviet government. Earle did so, using contacts in Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
and Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, and concluded that the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
was guilty.
After consulting with Elmer Davis
Elmer Davis
Elmer Davis was a well-known news reporter, author, the Director of the United States Office of War Information during World War II and a Peabody Award recipient.-Education and early career:...
, the director of the Office of War Information, Roosevelt rejected Earle's conclusion, saying that he was convinced of the responsibility of Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
, and ordered Earle's report suppressed. When Earle formally requested permission to publish his findings, the President gave him a written order to desist. Earle was reassigned and spent the rest of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
in American Samoa
American Samoa
American Samoa is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the South Pacific Ocean, southeast of the sovereign state of Samoa...
.
After the war, "...Earle became the first governor of a US state to be divorced. In 1945, he remarried to Jacqueline Sacre of Belgium with whom he had a daughter and a son. That same year, he was appointed assistant governor of Samoa. After his term in that office he returned to private business."