Messersmith, G.S., Berlin. To William Phillips, Washington.
Date
1933-10-28
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press
Abstract
Description
Must judge Germany by her acts, not what her leaders say; not so much physical brutality now but concentration camps and prisons still full of innocent people; when American visitors report favorably on Germany one wonders what the price has been; Mr. Ball, foreign traffic manager of Pennsylvania R.R., made statement in Paris that if Americans got in trouble in Germany it was their own fault; Thomas John] Watson, President of U.S. Chamber of Commerce, gave interview to "Angriff", Goebbels' paper, in which he gave present regime clean bill of health; hardness and brutality exist even among the youth; Hitler, Goebbels and Goering more moderate in their public utterances, but still intemperate in action; election Nov. 12 in which populace expected to approve regime's policies; citizens afraid to abstain from voting and afraid to vote "No"; many campaign speeches to justify Germany's leaving League and Disarmament Conference by making people believe Germany's security menaced; speeches emphasize unfavorable foreign press; [Kurt] Schmitt braved Hitler on Jewish question in conference of several hours; tried to convince Hitler economic aspects of present Jewish policy presented grave dangers for Germany; is told Hitler remained unconvinced and implacable; had luncheon for Ambassador [William E. Dodd] to meet some of the radical Nazi leaders, among them Dr. Hilland, who admitted their Jewish policies were causing them more injury abroad than any other aspect of Nazi movement and said that within reasonable time a proper percentage of Jews would again take part in all phases of German life; told him his statement could not be reconciled with what was still taking place; on Oct. 1, 150 members, 85 percent of whom were Jews, were eliminated from the Berlin Stock Exchange; important German company received official letters from two ministries with orders to eliminate from its Board of Directors all remaining Jews, though these Jews were considered indispensable to the business; to appease public sentiment at home and abroad German press now publishing less violent articles on racial matters, but policy of Nazi leaders has not changed; continued talk that there will be changes in Cabinet after election; concerned about Nazi propaganda in U.S.;son of Ivy [Ledbetter] Lee here as his father's representative; convinced that both father and son are in Nazi employ; told Party men at luncheon that their propaganda in U.S. would do them more harm than good; Americans recognize propaganda for what it is and are sick of it; an important Party man said at luncheon he had heard that President and Mrs. Roosevelt had only Jewish advisers that U.S. anti-German policy was dictated by Jews; pointed out to him that if Roosevelt's had Jewish friends and advisers it was because they were fine people and good citizens and any anti-German feeling in U.S. due not to any action of our government but to actions of German government; Dr. Ilgner to leave for U.S. in a month; he is now big man in Party and propaganda adviser; thinks himself a superman and is unscrupulous; should be watched, but not believed when he gets to America; Ambassador Dodd extremely resourceful; effort made to force him into position to say things favorable about Germany, but he will not allow himself to be used; resentment in Germany among all classes about treatment of Germany in disarmament problem; when asked opinion on Germany's withdrawal from League and Disarmament Conference, replied that decision to withdraw was made in heat of anger, and such decisions usually a mistake; convinced that Hitler is mentally a pathological case; Germans now courting Japanese; they will try to court U.S. also but U.S. must remain objective and cool; believes nothing can now stop this government except severe economic reverses.
Keywords
Messersmith, George S. (George Strausser), 1883-1960.