852.00/6414: Telegram
The Chargé in Germany (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 9—4:53 p.m.]
226. 1. I learn at the Foreign Office that identic replies to invitations to the proposed conference on the Mediterranean situation which were in the form of identic notes from the French and the British were handed to the British Ambassador and the French Chargé this morning. The German Government in effect declines participation. The attitude of the Foreign Office is one of continuing resentment that London refused Germany’s suggestion for joint consideration of the Leipzig and Deutschland incidents and that on this score the refusal of the present invitations is justified. The expressed Foreign Office reason is that, due in particular to the situation created by the Russian note to Italy, the “atmosphere is not favorable to a successful conference.” Foreign Office officials admitted that up to the time of that occurrence they had been inclined to accept. The notes in reply state that the matter should be referred to the existing Non-Intervention Committee. I was told that Germany would attend a Non-Intervention Committee meeting for that purpose whenever called.
2. As seen from here the Russian note to Italy has the appearance of a move in the realm of “pressure politics” which with increasing frequency has characterized the recent European situation, a feature of which is that positions taken for pressure purposes by no means necessarily imply the intent or even a willingness to translate words into action.
This Russian position may, I think, be regarded as a natural repercussion in Europe of the Far Eastern situation and thus in a sense confirmatory of Von Mackensen’s opinion reported in my 206, August [Page 393] 28, 11 a.m.51 Incidentally, in my conversation at the Foreign Office the view was expressed that the present Russo-Italian difficulties would not result in a rupture of diplomatic relations.
3. The German notes just published are substantially along the lines outlined above. They stress throughout, however, that the action taken is in agreement with the Italian Government and give as one of the reasons why the matter should be referred to the Non-intervention Committee as thereby permitting the participation of other states such as Poland and Portugal.
Copies in code by mail to Rome, Paris, Moscow.