File No. 763.72/7986

The Chargé in Switzerland ( Wilson) to the Secretary of State

[Telegram]

2166. For Harrison from Anderson:

7. Have waited at Berne nine days expecting arrival of Apponyi daily. Austro-Hungarian Legation here not communicative until today. One member of Legation told me to-day that Apponyi’s several attempts to come had been frustrated by very serious conditions that have arisen; “foolish people are in a ferment and not appeased by grand victories over Italians—claim the result adds to their burdens and decreases their supplies.” Important crisis pending. It is suggested that I be given safe-conduct to Vienna and meet Apponyi there. He tells me this can be obtained in forty-eight hours. I am prepared to go [unless you] cable disapproval and believe I can get at the true inwardness of conditions there.

Apropos of information cabled you from Wilson, 2165, to-day,1 the authority quoted in my cipher telegram No. 42 told me that Austria was not controlled by a military régime; that neither Emperor Charles nor his Government were disciples of Nietzsche or Bernhardi.

Wilson
  1. Not printed.
  2. Ante, p. 277.