Messersmith, G.S. Vienna. To James Clement Dunn, Washington.
Date
1935-10-17
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press
Abstract
Description
As anticipated, Austria refused to participate in sanctions, which was understandable; Hungary's refusal less understandable; [Royall] Tyler, representative of League Finance Committee for Hungary, said friends in Hungarian Government depressed, and sure they would do the wrong thing; Austrian Foreign Minister left impression Austria would not leave League, no matter what Italy did; government convinced no immediate danger to Austria from Germany; [George E. R.] Gedye, correspondent for N.Y. Times, again distorts news; reporting sham air attack recently, said hundreds of people suffered from tear gas; Col. [Martin C.] Shallenberger, U.S. Military Attaché witnessed attack and reported it was conducted with precision and success; Gedye, a Socialist, completely out of sympathy with present Austrian regime, and lets his prejudices interfere with his objectivity; not the sort of reporting Times usually countenances; General [Charles H.] Sherrill in Paris after his recent visit to Hitler; one who heard address said he gave flattering picture of Hitler and saw no reason why American athletes should not participate in Olympic games in Berlin; Sherrill is intelligent and should know what the situation is, but he was flattered and shown great attention on his visit to Hitler, and he is determined on American participation; in spite of assurances of no discrimination in the Olympics, recent order of German Sports Leader informed members of "Makkabi", German Jewish sports organization, they would not be permitted to take part in Berlin Olympics as according to Nuremberg laws Jews no longer citizens, and only German citizens can represent Germany on an Olympic team; athletic groups in U.S. should be fully informed; [Hjalmar] Schacht said to be disturbed about Nuremberg Law and to have gotten "concession" that in banking and higher industrial circles it is to apply only to 100 percent Jews; all Jews feeling the pressure; financial situation in Germany now so serious, they have resorted to extorting money for the State from individuals; many stories of corruption among high ranking Nazi officials; Bishop of Meissen arrested and imprisoned for illegal exchange transactions of which he was probably innocent, while the Propaganda Ministry openly approached U.S. Commercial Attaché with offer to make exchange transactions which are illegal.
Keywords
Messersmith, George S. (George Strausser), 1883-1960.