Messersmith, G.S., Vienna. To William Phillips, Washington.
Date
1935-07-22
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Delaware Library, Museums and Press
Abstract
Description
Effect of [Sir Samuel] Hoare's speech in House of Commons instantaneous in calming fears, particularly in Southeastern Europe; speech opens way hopefully to peaceful settlement of Abyssinian question; Danubian pacts may then be concluded; pacts will not make good neighbor of Germany as long as present regime is in power, but may help safeguard Austrian independence; reaction to Anglo-German Naval pact in England as well as in rest of Europe has shown Germany that expected relief in way of credits and trade privileges not to be realized; unsuccessful externally, Nazis now trying to strengthen internal position through new reign of terror; Germany needs favorable opinion abroad, and to this end, some of higher leaders have tried to use their influence to steer more conservative course, but without effect; more radical elements getting upper hand; university professors, Christian and Jew, let out in large numbers, renewed terroristic campaign in university and intellectual circles organized; Richard Strauss, head of Reich Music Chamber, forced out because Stefan Zweig wrote libretto of his new opera; new offensive against Church; [Hans] Kerrls, Minister without Portfolio, to take charge of Church question, and Count [Wolf von] Helldorf appointed Police President of Berlin; Kerrls a fanatic, narrow and prejudiced; Helldorf radical, relentless, unscrupulous, extremely anti-Semitic; certain German Jews, in spite of situation, lend themselves as instruments of the Government; Jakob Goldschmidt, capable banker, suffering under loss of position, now wandering about Europe and reduced to becoming agent of Nazis; Max Warburg, of Hamburg, connected with efforts to get credits, etc. for Germany from U.S.; probably trying to save what he can of Warburg interests; Dr. [Karl] Goerdeler has resigned as price commissioner in Germany; his task had become impossible; increasing scarcity of raw materials and difficulty in financing industrial operations have cut down on days or work in various areas; many workers employed only 14 to 16 days a month, and have real struggle for existence; workers who complain are arrested for "Communist activities"; British veterans visiting in Berlin witnessed anti-Semitic excesses; U.S., as well as other countries, must face facts; war in Europe, even if U.S. managed to stay out of it, would create problems for her through her relations with other nations both warring and neutral; it would be mistake now for U.S. to take stand on matter of neutrality; should not take measures or make declarations which would tie hands if emergency arises; Catholic clergy in Germany faced by struggle for existence; British veterans visiting Germany agreed to place wreath on what they understood was veteran's monument in Munich; on arriving in Munich they discovered the monument was in memory of those who died in the abortive Hitler putsch of 1923, and they refused to go through with the ceremony; those in charge of ceremony went on with it and placed wreath "in the name of the British Veterans."
Keywords
Messersmith, George S. (George Strausser), 1883-1960.