The author was called to appear at the police-headquarters in 1938, and was offered her passport back, i.e. was allowed to leave the country if she paid RM 150.000 which would be used for the benefit of the Jews in the East. This was the so-called Helldorf-Spende.

She succeeded in lowering the amount to RM 100.000 and got her documents after a week or two, but was retained at the frontier until she had paid by telegraphic transfer RM 300 for the old typewriter she had with her.