893.102 Tientsin/317: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 27—4:40 p.m.]
905. …
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As to Russia, they12 have sent instructions to Strang to express to Russia their willingness to concede finally the point that Russia has been standing out for, that is to name the Balkan [Baltic?] States in any agreement. The British said that, having agreed that they will name them, they asked Molotov to reconsider his request on the ground that it will do more harm than good. They also have said that the Russians must add Switzerland and Holland. I asked him what the English will do if the Russians find some excuse for not accepting these terms and Halifax said then they will go back to an original three-power proposition, England, France and Russia in a mutual pact against aggression. He is disposed as to [is?] the Government to tell Russia to go jump into the Baltic Sea or any other sea they can find, except that they have been under constant pressure from all their friends who say that the failure of a Russian pact would be psychologically bad for England (my 871, June 21, 8 p.m.13).
Halifax feels that the German situation is certainly very restless at the minute but believes that Danzig can be settled between Poland and Germany if Hitler wants it settled; they can get no assurances from him, however, that he wants to do anything with England; certainly not at the minute. They have sent him a reply today on his denunciation of the Anglo-German naval pact, “firm”, Halifax said smilingly, but saying that they would be willing to sit down to work out any new basis that would be acceptable.14
Halifax feels that there is plenty of opportunity for trouble between now and the latter part of July but again it all rests with Mr. Hitler. If he has made up his mind to take England on, no olive branch will have any effect on him and there is a very definite feeling now that that is what he has in the back of his head.
One thing that you must consider in all reports at least from London, and I should think it is quite likely from most other spots, is that [Page 277] what is going on now is a battle of nerves, and opinions and judgments are more than inclined to be affected by nerves rather than tempered with good common sense.