File No. 763.72119/190
The Chargé in Germany (Grew) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 2, 10.40 p. m.]
4671. Actuated by the allusions to peace contained in the Chancellor’s interviews with Hale and myself and in the Reichstag Wednesday, already reported to the Department, I have drawn the following impressions of the general situation here:
Germany as a whole, with the exception of a certain element in the Army and Navy and certain politicians of the Reventlow type, would appear ready to welcome steps toward peace as the food situation, while by no means critical, is becoming more and more difficult, and as there is a general weariness of war. As it is not generally believed here that peace can yet be effected, owing principally to the (resources of?) England and the growing doubt that Russia can be induced to make a separate peace, the Empire is gathering all of its potential resources with a view to augmenting the supply of trained soldiers, ammunition, and guns in order to meet and, if possible, to exceed the enemy’s increasing output. The three principal steps taken in this (significant?) and large scale movement are the organization of the government auxiliary service and the impressment of laborers in Belgium and Poland which will release a large number of men to the front and provide a great increase in the number of available munition workers. By this method it is hoped that Germany will be able to conduct a successful offensive against Russia next spring or earlier, and to check a similar offensive on the part of the Allies. For this reason the army leaders are probably averse to present steps toward peace, as they appear to believe that they can secure more favorable terms after their spring offensive than now. The Navy, as I have already reported, will never feel that its trump card has been played until the indiscriminate [Page 78] submarine warfare against British commerce shall have been reopened.
The Chancellor, however, is to all appearances sincerely in favor of any steps which might lead to peace, and I am of the opinion that Zimmermann, although a more determined man than Von Jagow, shares the Chancellor’s sentiments in this respect. They feel, as far as I am able to judge, that the war can now only result in a draw, that the continued loss of life is and will be futile, and that although Germany is able to maintain the present situation indefinitely, if not (to the end?), humanity calls for an end.
To what extent the Chancellor would encounter opposition here, should his repeated peace suggestions be acted upon, I am not yet able to say. Whatever criticism might be evoked, however, would, as far as I am able to gauge the situation, be based upon the fear of a confession of weakness rather than upon any lack of desire for peace among the people, officials, and politicians of Germany as a whole.
I may add that I have shown the above statement to the military attaché of the Embassy who informs me that his views and impressions coincide with my own.