Messersmith, George S. (George Strausser), 1883-1960.2011-06-152011-06-151939-01-221136-00http://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/7113Parts of pp. 2 & 5 cropped and end of letter missing. Received call yesterday from [George] Rublee asking for help; owing to [Hjalmar] Schacht's dismissal, he had been unable to get any information from Reichsbank or Foreign Office as to whether negotiations with Intergovernmental [Refugee] Committee were to be continued; went immediately to [Hermann] Goering's office and talked to Maj. Gen. [Karl] Bodenschatz, Goering's chief aide, who has always been friendly; explained situation and asked Bodenschatz to talk to Goering; Bodenschatz called half hour later reporting that Goering said negotiations were not to be broken off and that he would like to see Rublee that afternoon; took Rublee to Goering's house at 2:30; [Helmuth] Wohlthat and interpreter with Goering to assist in conversation; Goering assured Rublee that Germans would aid Committee in carrying on its work; has little confidence in outcome of negotiations; Wohlthat an old friend and will deal honestly with Committee, but his hands will be tied by the powers above him; has not changed attitude concerning present regime and has disagreed with Messersmith only on probable longevity of regime; does not overestimate strength of regime, but is conscious of weaknesses of forces existing to oppose it; appeasement policy of France and England only encourages German aggression; snubs and gestures accomplish nothing; keeping U.S. Ambassador at home makes no impression here; only building up armaments and sending U.S. fleet into Atlantic can do that; Ambassador should be here; present staff capable, but does not have contacts which Ambassador through his high office is able to maintain; was pleased to have Avra Warren visit; he has gone home with clear picture of problems; talked over with him visa matters and Blücher Palace problem; was worried about Underwood and trouble his chauffer got into; succeeded in helping him get chauffer out of country, but now Underwood anxious to leave; work on Blücher Palace needs competent architect to oversee it and thinks Underwood should stay until job is complete; visa work back on solid and steady basis; terror somewhat subsided, and people not in such a mad rush to get out of country; has threatened to close quota for year if Nazis continue to terrorize Jews and make it impossible for this office to function; has also informed authorities that if another American is placed in concentration camp, State Department would be asked to make all American passports invalid for Germany.Typed Letter, 5 p.en-USMessersmith, George S. (George Strausser), 1883-1960.OtherMSS 109