Paris Peace Conf. 184.013102/32: Telegram
Brigadier General George H. Harries to the Commission to Negotiate Peace
[Received 11:10 p.m.]
30. From Dresel. Interview with Rathenau8 gives different point of view from that prevalent in purely political circles. He believes [Page 87] that Danzig and left Rhine control can be accepted if no customs barriers are erected between occupied and non-occupied Germany, but not otherwise. He greatly fears the effect of French propagandism in these districts which as he thinks is directed towards permanent annexation. He believes that Danzig question is capable of solution and does not favor a protest on Alsace-Lorraine nor on annexation of Polish parts of Prussia. On the other hand he insists that delivery of the coal mines of the Silesia to Poland would complete the industrial ruin of Germany and be quite inacceptable, and he considers the taking over of German colonies unjustifiable in view of the Fourteen Points and claims that their loss will prevent Germany from obtaining on reasonable terms raw materials urgently needed. Finally he stated his opinion that an indemnity of 125,000,000,000 was preposterous in view of desperate industrial situation and financial bankruptcy. He has a plan by which a permanent Inter-Allied Commission in Berlin should, with cooperation of German authorities, collect trade and financial statistics and determine what sum can be paid as indemnity.
Rathenau still is understood to be closely in touch with Russian Government and no doubt is relying on laborers in Russia to accomplish the industrial regeneration of Germany. He believes that the two countries may well eventually have the same form of government, viz a modification of the Soviet system in the nature of an oligarchy and not Communistic. From other sources I gather the arrangement which is stated already to have been concluded between Berlin and Moscow though now kept in the background, may be brought into the negotiations by German peace delegates if a good opportunity offers. [Dresel.]
- Walter Rathenau, participating in Berlin in the preliminary preparations for the Peace Conference.↩