741.62/61: Telegram

The Ambassador in Germany (Dodd) to the Secretary of State

56. Trend of the British-German conversations yesterday extending until 7:30 in the evening were along general lines with the British delegation endeavoring to obtain as frank a statement as possible from the Chancellor as to German standpoint and policy. All points in the British-French inquiry [communiqué?] of February 3rd discussed, chiefly the Eastern Pact. Disposition on the part of the Germans either to minimize the importance of certain other points or to agree to further discussions.

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German officials say that a very friendly spirit prevailed and feel discussions will mean a general satisfactory clarification of their position in quarters which show the greatest tendency towards mediation and sympathy. The British position here is stronger than believed previously.

In conversations with Nazi and Foreign Office officials the German position is now explained as follows: the Eastern Pact with its offensive “assistance mutuelle” clause is not acceptable, as among other things, a war between Russia and Japan would mean German participation and a step towards undesirable communistic orientation. She is ready to accept a nonaggression clause in such a pact but it must not interfere with eventual Austro-German relations and must therefore not guarantee present status. Air armaments may be disposed of on the basis of equality without argument from Germany. Memel and similar questions have been given a tactical importance with a view to justifying League attitude but there is no outstanding reason why a return to the League is not possible on the basis of equality provided France will withdraw her charges and provided the League is not used as an instrument of power by other countries. War at present would mean the downfall of the Nazi Government whether successful or not.

The British official attitude here is somewhat different in that there is but little hope of material results from the conversations, that Germany has taken all she can by unilateral action and now desires to talk on the basis of the elastic term “equality” involving any number of controversial questions and interminable discussions and that there are too many points for which a common basis of discussion cannot be found.

No informative communiqués on the discussions have been issued.

Although the discussions are largely exploratory I feel that the Nazi Government now realizes it cannot indulge in entirely empty evasion and that regardless of what the plans are for the future an endeavor must be made to conciliate if for no other reason than self-preservation. It is not willing at the moment to take all consequences in case of a collapse of negotiations.

Dodd