740.0011 European War 1939/285527/28: Telegram

The Chargé in Italy (Reed) to the Secretary of State

777. I am reliably informed that important officials of the German Embassy here have declared on several occasions that Roosevelt’s defeat is of vital importance to Germany; that the German Government has authentic information of an undertaking by the President to bring the United States into the war after the elections and that Germany will therefore spare neither money nor effort to prevent his reelection.

Reed