Messersmith, G.S., Vienna. To [Cordell Hull], Washington.
Date
1937-06-28
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press
Abstract
Description
Regretted not seeing Secretary again before leaving for Vienna; had pleasant trip back with Mrs. [Florence Jaffray] Harriman and Mr. & Mrs. [Frederick Augustine] Sterling aboard; had car meet ship at Le Havre and drove to Vienna via Paris; talked with [William C.] Bullitt and got his views on European situation; upon return to Vienna talked to members of Government, best informed colleagues, and other observers; read copies of despatches sent to Department by [Alan Steward] Rogers during [Messersmith's] absence and found Rogers had given accurate picture of developments; Rogers one of best political reporting officers in Foreign Service; Rogers scheduled for much needed leave June 30, before going to new assignment in Rome, but offered to stay on in Vienna as long as needed; found little change in Austrian internal situation except for increased Nazi activity, but Government in control of situation; Venice meeting of Mussolini and [Kurt] Schuschnigg unproductive; Mussolini, under German pressure, presented document for Schuschnigg to sign in which he would have agreed to certain action respecting National Socialists in Austria; Schuschnigg refused to sign; when Mussolini then asked Schuschnigg to go slow in negotiations for better commercial relations with Czechoslovakia, Schuschnigg replied that he could see no difference between that and Italy's agreement with Yugoslavia; Mussolini then intimated that his divisions would not march in case of German aggression against Austria; in spite of loss of Italian support, Austria maintaining strong attitude against German pressure; Schuschnigg convinced internal and external positions of Italy and Germany weaker and they are less able to strike in any direction; he is also encouraged by conversations [Guido] Schmidt had in Paris and London; some progress in Nazi penetration in certain classes of Austrian population; German newspapers sent into Austria free, while Austrian newspapers rather expensive, so that some people see only German papers; [Konstantin] von Neurath's London visit called off; Germans knew questions would be asked about their plans in Southeastern Europe - questions they would not want to answer; story of alleged attack on [cruiser] Leipzig an alibi for von Neurath's cancelled trip; internal struggle in Berlin between Army, Navy, and Foreign Office on one side and Party leaders on the other; Party wants action now; other side wishes to prevent explosion in any direction; drove across Southern Germany on a Sunday on way back to Vienna; never saw so many German people show lack of sympathy with Government; German friend recently remarked that only war which would be popular in Germany would be one against Italy; weakness and desperation of Rome and Berlin will draw them together more closely, but it is an articifial cooperation and basically ineffective; [Hjalmar] Schacht made speech recently before Carl Schurz Verein in Berlin with many half true but brilliant and witty statements and completely unsound; [Thomas John] Watson, President of American Section of International Chamber of Commerce now meeting in Berlin, heard Schacht's speech and was impressed; he persists in believing that by playing up to Nazis he can get protection for American interests in Germany; expects no good to come of meeting in Berlin; [William Franklin] Knox of the Chicago Daily News in Vienna recently; had not yet returned to Vienna when he arrived, but had asked that his request to meet Chancellor and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs be complied with if possible; he saw both, with the understanding the talks were for background purposes only, but he has published what is practically an interview; also published article on "starvation wages" in Austria, the facts in which are quite incorrect; he seems to be interested in undermining the country; he told an official in Foreign Office that he was going to do everything possible to persuade U.S. to favor credits and markets for Germany; was surprised to receive telegram with instructions to return to Washington as Assistant Secretary of State; has arranged to sail on July 13; has had three pleasant years in Vienna and leaves with regret, but looks forward to duties in Washington and serving Secretary more intimately and directly.
Keywords
Messersmith, George S. (George Strausser), 1883-1960.