740.00/221: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 6—3:32 p.m.]
1571. Delbos said to me today that so far as anyone could discover the purpose of Von Papen’s75 coming to Paris had been to ascertain [Page 153] whether France would react more violently to a German move against Czechoslovakia or to a German move against Austria. He said that Von Papen had been informed with complete honesty that France would fulfill to the limit her treaty obligations to Czechoslovakia and that she would view with disfavor any change in the status of Austria. He, Delbos, believed that if Hitler should decide to make any move in Central Europe at the present time it would be directed against Austria and not Czechoslovakia.
Delbos went on to say that he was considerably disturbed by the situation in Poland. It seemed inevitable that there should be a clash between the President, Moscicki, on the one hand and Smigly-Rydz on the other. Beck and most of the colonels would back Smigly-Rydz and he believed that as a result of an open breach Moscicki would be eliminated completely and Smigly-Rydz would become the same sort of dictator that Pilsudski was. (The Polish Ambassador in Paris has expressed similar opinions to me.)
Delbos said that at the meeting of the Socialist National Committee this afternoon Blum76 unquestionably would have to answer very embarrassing questions with regard to Spain. Blum would be able to answer, however, that the French Government was prepared to take any action in Spain that would be supported by the British Government but was not prepared to move alone and that the recent British action in appointing representatives to Franco’s Government should indicate clearly that the British would not support France in a decided anti-Franco action. Delbos said that he believed Blum would have no difficulty in quieting the storm and that there was no chance whatever that Blum might be compelled to withdraw from the Cabinet.
Delbos said that he had discussed the question of the German demand for colonies with Eden when they met in Brussels. Eden had been adamant. Delbos went on to say that while it had been comparatively easy for Germany to break those clauses of the Treaty of Versailles which concerned German territory in Europe it would be impossible for Germany to break the clauses of the treaty with regard to colonies unless Britain and France should consent. The British were fully determined not to permit the clauses with regard to colonies to be changed. I expressed surprise that the British should still be taking such a stiff attitude and Delbos said that at any rate for the moment their attitude was exceedingly stiff.