740.00119 European War 1939/22: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 4—3:31 p.m.]
1919. I have just seen Halifax.75 They have heard nothing from Italy or from Germany on any peace proposals. When they are made they will consider them from two angles: (1) the question of tactics they should adopt; and (2) the substance that the propositions will contain. As to the first, unless it is an overt humbug, they propose to give it careful consideration; as to the substance, of course it is very difficult at this time to form any judgment. They feel that they are in a very difficult position as far as making any agreement with Hitler and the Nazis is concerned, but until the proposition has been made they do not know what to say and they intend to take counsel on the substance with all of the neutrals, not particularly the United States.
The important and most disconcerting thing in his mind is that the Russians are attempting to make the Turks so change their agreement with England and France76 as to make it worthless. The basis of this seems to be that the Russians want the Turks to agree that if England gets into a war, with Russia on the opposite side, the Turks will agree not to aid England and France. Halifax thinks that the Turks are a little bit muddled about the facts at the minute because the Turkish Minister at Moscow told the British representative there that it was not quite as bad as it appeared on the surface, but the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Ankara notified the British Ambassador there that the demands of the Russians if complied with would [Page 502] completely wipe out the value of the Anglo-French-Turkish agreement. I asked Halifax if he thought that meant that the Russians intended to fight on the side of Germany and he said that he was not clear on that point. He was still very hopeful, however, that the Italians were not going in although he is frank to say he cannot tell from one minute to the next. As soon as he has anything definite from Turkey or from Italy on the German proposition he will advise me at once.
Halifax also expressed the opinion that if this war continues it will mean Bolshevism all over Europe.
In a casual conversation after discussing the above it became clear to me that the Government are already aware that there is some agitation springing up in England critical of the conduct of the war by the Government and contemplating throwing the Government out and probably bringing Churchill in as Prime Minister. I think that Chamberlain77 and Halifax are aware of this situation but for the minute do not appear to be very much worried about it.