852.00/5824: Telegram
The Ambassador in Germany (Dodd) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 24—7:25 p.m.]
144. The serious situation here led me to say to Von Neurath when I saw him informally Tuesday afternoon, “I am very sorry you are not to go to London to help them settle that sad Spanish conflict”. He replied twice that he was equally sorry and made the impression that Hitler had forbidden him to go.
This morning press people here reported that the English and French Ambassadors and I were reported in the Paris and London press as having protested officially here against the German attitude. I made no protest; what I said personally to Neurath was just what I have indicated above.
However, I did see the British Ambassador at noon today just to get his reactions. He said curiously, “This is the renewal of the Bismarck program of annexing all German speaking people. My Government is foolish or does not understand the situation in Europe. I think England and the United States must join Germany and leave her free to take Austria and as much of Czechoslovakia as she wishes”. He said France must be left to herself and Spain be left to Franco. This would be a stabilized Europe he believed. He then added that he agreed that England, her commonwealths, and the United States must cooperate in commercial matters. A good deal else was said but this was the central and basic point of view.