45
862.20/800
Memorandum
by the Secretary of State Regarding a Conversation With the German Ambassador
(Luther)
[WASHINGTON,] March
28, 1935.
The German Ambassador during his call
casually stated that he trusted there would be no misunderstanding about the
true attitude of the German Government on political and peace questions. He
showed no disposition to elaborate, and I then remarked that the German Government
at this time had a greater opportunity than any within two generations to make
a remarkable showing of leadership with a program that would gradually bring
Western Europe, to normal political, social and peace relations; that the
nations could either take this course or they could continue more or less aloof
from each other with more or less misunderstanding of each others true motives,
purposes and objectives, with the result that each country would go forward and
arm to the teeth and without limit and on an ever-increasing scale, so that at
some stage some local incident perchance would ignite the spark that would
start a conflagration which in its ultimate effects would not leave a vestige
of Western civilization. The Ambassador hurriedly proceeded to disclaim any
course on the part of his Government except that of peace. ... I asked the
Ambassador what about the news reports as to the alleged objective of the
German Government with respect to the Polish Corridor. He instantly disclaimed
and denied as to this. I then referred to the reported objectives, such as the
economic union with Austria, the return of Memel, the restoration of certain
portions of Czechoslovakia with 3-1/2 million inhabitants, and certain other
reported objectives. The Ambassador promptly disclaimed and denied as to each
of these and insisted that his Government favored peace. I said, “What about
disarmament ?" He replied that his Government was and would be willing to
disarm on relative equality with other governments. I continued at each stage
to repeat as to the almost unprecedented opportunity of his Government for
leadership with a program back to normal and peace conditions, and at the same
time to emphasize how easy it would be for this opportunity to be lost or
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DOCUMENTS
thrown away amidst the many difficult and chaotic things that were being
said and done or threatened; that it would take a resolute person, strongly
bent on the goal of stability in international affairs, political, economic,
and peace, if such leadership were to succeed.
C[ORDELL] H[ULL]