Messersmith, G.S., Vienna. To Cordell Hull, Washington.
Date
1937-04-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press
Abstract
Description
Leaving Vienna this evening; will spend two days in Berlin prior to sailing from Hamburg on April 7; on arrival in U.S. will spend several days with mother; should arrive in Washington 19th or 20th; coolness between [Kurt] Schuschnigg and Mussolini; Schuschnigg hurt because of Mussolini's abrupt about face on question of restoration; Mussolini upset over Austrian-Italian football match in Vienna which broke up with a quarrel and crowd showed its anti-Italian attitude; Schuschnigg's planned visit to see Mussolini now off, and may not be made at all; Schuschnigg in Budapest recently; discussed with [Koloman de] Daránye and [Koloman de] Kánya the Nazi putsch in Hungary; agreed Vienna and Budapest must work more closely together; they decided to ask Mussolini to use his influence in Berlin to end interference in internal affairs of Austria and Hungary; [Milan] Hodza, Czech premier, in Vienna recently and agreed with Schuschnigg closer cooperation between Austria and Czechoslovakia essential; Hungary offered Czechoslovakia bilateral arrangement which Czechs turned down because they are opposed to bilateral agreements, but offer indicative of movement for closer cooperation between all states of Southeast Europe; Italy invited Austria to make arrangement with Yugoslavia similar to hers, but Austria declined, seeing behind this the game Berlin is playing with help of Rome - bilateral pacts as opposed to collective security; Berlin and Rome hope that by stimulating bilateral pacts they can undermine Little Entente and Balkan Union; thinks Italian-Yugoslav agreement offers no real threat to Little Entente; U.S. trade agreement program can play constructive part; events in Spain have taught Germany and Italy that there are limits to action aggressive states can take; Germans have learned their planes and tanks not so effective as they believed; Italians have learned their troops no more dependable than before; Reichswehr turned thumbs down on Gen. [Wilhelm] Faupel's request for 60,000 men; trouble Franco having due largely to reaction of Spaniards fighting against Italian and German units; of Germans, only S.A. and S.S. engaged in actual fighting; regular troops used in rear for training or for guarding communications; Berlin-Rome axis wobbly; Italy eager to reach agreement with England and France and Germany continuing her efforts with England; factors presenting gravest dangers are moves in certain quarters for negotiating with Germany and opinions held in some quarters that Franco-Soviet and Czech-Soviet agreements should be abolished; if England persuades France and Czechoslovakia to give up their Russian alliances, path would be open for Germany to move; still believes 1937 to be a decisive year; hopes to see friends in Berlin and get fresh picture of situation from them.
Keywords
Messersmith, George S. (George Strausser), 1883-1960.