The German Ambassador during his call casually stated that he trusted there
would be no misunderstanding about the true attitude of the German Government
on political and peace questions. He showed no disposition to elaborate, and
I then remarked that the German Government at this time had a greater opportunity
than any within two generations to make a remarkable showing of leadership with
a program that would gradually bring Western Europe, to normal political, social
and peace relations; that the nations could either take this course or they
could continue more or less aloof from each other with more or less misunderstanding
of each others true motives, purposes and objectives, with the result that each
country would go forward and arm to the teeth and without limit and on an ever-increasing
scale, so that at some stage some local incident perchance would ignite the
spark that would start a conflagration which in its ultimate effects would not
leave a vestige of Western civilization. The Ambassador hurriedly proceeded
to disclaim any course on the part of his Government except that of peace. ...
I asked the Ambassador what about the news reports as to the alleged objective
of the German Government with respect to the Polish Corridor. He instantly disclaimed
and denied as to this. I then referred to the reported objectives, such as the
economic union with Austria, the return of Memel, the restoration of certain
portions of Czechoslovakia with 3-1/2 million inhabitants, and certain other
reported objectives. The Ambassador promptly disclaimed and denied as to each
of these and insisted that his Government favored peace. I said, "What about
disarmament ?" He replied that his Government was and would be willing to disarm
on relative equality with other governments. I continued at each stage to repeat
as to the almost unprecedented opportunity of his Government for leadership
with a program back to normal and peace conditions, and at the same time to
emphasize how easy it would be for this opportunity to be lost or thrown away
amidst the many difficult and chaotic things that were being said and done or
threatened; that it would take a resolute person, strongly bent on the goal
of stability in international affairs, political, economic, and peace, if such
leadership were to succeed.
C[ORDELL] H[ULL]
Source: U.S., Department of State, Publication 1983, Peace and War: United States Foreign Policy, 1931-1941 (Washington, D.C.: U.S., Government Printing Office, 1943, pp. 256-257.
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