Messersmith, G.S., Vienna. To William Phillips, Washington.
Date
1935-09-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press
Abstract
Description
Foreign Minister went to Geneva Sept. 4 for conversations with [Samuel] Hoare, [Pierre] Laval, [Pompeo] Aloisi, [Eduard] Benes, and [Koloman de] Kanya; if conversations satisfactory, Austria will continue to withstand German pressure for separate agreement; Austria has accepted Italian support, but much opposition in country to Italian influence; Austria prefers to depend for support on France and England, realizing such support more dependable and effective; hopeful that degree of cooperation may be retained between London, Paris, and Rome, but lacking this Austria prepared to continue present course, even in face of German-Italian rapproachment; King [Vittorio] Emanuele and General Staff of Italian Army, even General [Italo] Balbo, opposed to Mussolini's program, as are most thinking people of Italian population; England sees Italian aggression in Abyssinia as threat to her African colonies; France in difficult position; if she sides with Italy, League is gone and Little Entente falls to pieces; before making decision, France must have adequate assurances from England; England now seems prepared to give these; if Italy forces issue and England and France come to full understanding, England and France will have support of practically every other country in Europe except Germany; German situation worse; prices up, and wages remain stationary or decrease; Jewish and church persecution accentuated; regime maintains itself by terror and through Reichswehr; Reichswehr will continue to support regime as long as it can keep armament program going; Germany watching external developments with satisfaction; feels they are working in her favor; [Franz] von Papen very active; goes about the country calling on governors of various provinces, whether invited or not, trying to sow discontent and uncertainty; Austrian Nazi Party inactive but German money used to suborn officials into spreading discontent in commercial circles; joint communiqué issued by German and Austrian Government that misrepresentation of events [by press] in either country not desirable; German papers distorted communiqué; Austrian papers interpreted it to mean they were to publish no German news; this could have dangerous effects, and Government informed press that they might publish German news if they were sure of its accuracy; rapidly changing situation in Europe should indicate to Americans how dangerous it is to tie hands with neutrality statutes.
Keywords
Messersmith, George S. (George Strausser), 1883-1960.