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611.6231/1055
Memorandum, by the
Secretary of State Regarding a Conversation With the German Ambassador
(Dieckhoff)
[Extracts]
[WASHINGTON] September 28, 1938.
The Ambassador of Germany called on his own
request. He said he came in only to let me know that he was back in Washington
and at my disposal for the purpose of carrying on suitable relations between
our two Governments. I thanked him.
I added that there are varying impressions as to when and whether his
Government might change some of its basic policies under the operation of which
his Government would not be interested in pur-
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DOCUMENTS
suing the general course of this Government; that some of these reports
represent the head of the German Government as seeking general dominion by
force; that I was not raising any question as to the truth or falsity of such
reports, but only referring to the obstruction which they constitute to the
restoration of confidence on the part of bankers and other business people who
would ordinarily cooperate with German bankers and business people in a broad
way. The Ambassador said he knew about these phases, and he hastily and almost
parenthetically denied the world ambitions of Chancellor Hitler. He proceeded
in a brief general sentence or two to say that Germany had a right to interests
in the Balkan and Danubian countries and there was no ground on which it should
be bottled up. I again made some reference to the question of acquiring
dominion generally and in a broad way over territory, and he disclaimed as to
territory but without explanation or argument. I said that it would be
incomprehensible for Europe to commit suicide—all alike. The Ambassador then
said that he had talked with Chancellor Hitler and he was taking a genuine
interest in this country, its economic and industrial development and policies
in particular.
C[ORDELL] H[ULL]