840.48 Refugees/890: Telegram (part air)
The Ambassador in Germany (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 12—8:20 a.m.]
611. I talked yesterday with a high official who told me that it is impossible to predict the outcome of the present “wave of Jew hatred”. He said it might result in a decision to accelerate the “export” of Jews and a willingness to meet the views of the Intergovernmental Committee for Political Refugees as a practical method of facilitating emigration. On the other hand the temper and decision might be to proceed with new anti-Jewish measures on a purely internal basis rejecting any consultation with other countries regardless of how it [Page 820] might affect emigration. He doubted that any answer would be made with regard to Rublee’s visit or that the High Party Command would commit itself to a decision or final plans on the Jewish question for several weeks yet.
In conversations yesterday Woermann, Undersecretary of State at the Foreign Office, told Heath53 that the matter of Rublee’s trip was still under study but that he was inclined to think that the German Government did not wish to discuss the Jewish problem with anyone at this time.
In all conversations on this subject, and they have been numerous, I have emphasized invariably the advantages to Germany itself of discussing these matters with Rublee before taking any decision but have noticed a growing tendency among German officials to consider that Germany should make its own decision and plan without conference with any outside person. Woermann said further that the Foreign Office had no information of a rumored police order expelling all foreign Jews from Germany and did not believe that such an order would be issued. The United Press Bureau here states however that it hears on “good authority” that such a decree is being given some consideration in Munich.
Cipher text to London for Rublee.
- Donald R. Heath, First Secretary of Embassy in Germany.↩