Paris Peace Conf. 184.01402/3
Dr. H. H. Field to the Commission to Negotiate Peace
Arrival in Munich and First Visit to Foreign Office
Every facility was accorded to us at the frontier, nothing being submitted to censorship nor to customs examination. We were met on the platform in Munich by Dr. Engerer of the Foreign Office who greeted us as welcome to Munich in the name of the prime Minister. Rooms had been engaged and we were taken to the Hotel by Dr. Engerer who expected to wait upon us to know our wishes the next morning. I declined this offer and said we should shift for ourselves [Page 14] and turn to him when we required him. Some days later when we were installed, I made my first visit to the Foreign Office. With Dr. Engerer and Dr. Merkle, I arranged technical matters concerning our stay, our letters and despatches. Dr. Merkle profited by the occasion to expound eloquently and well the food situation. I was then taken to the highest official then in service, Geheimrat von Müller. Here I encountered the coldest reserve. It seems that the Bavarian Legation in Bern had seen fit to give a statement to the press to the effect that I had been sent to Bavaria by the American Government to obtain information for it and to enter into “Offiziöse” relations with’ all circles. Von Müller seemed to fear on the one hand that this might be construed as unwished for spying or on the other hand that Berlin might take offence at the matter being run by the Bavarian Legation alone. I assured him that the German Legation was informed and approved.
Our first impressions in Munich are those of deep gloom in spite of all forced jollification, dancing etc.
The one topic on all lips is food. There is no exception. It is a complete obsession. Another universal trait is the hatred of Eisner.4 I have surely talked with 50 people of all walks of life, overheard conversations at the barbers and elsewhere and have yet to meet a person in favor of Eisner. Some consider him a sincere idealist, but most regard him as an intriguer. I am more inclined to the former view.
Coupled with this animosity against Eisner and his kind is a tremendous outbreak of antisemitism. The Jews are regarded as to blame for everything. It is the universal opinion that Eisner’s government cannot last and that Auer is the coming man. There is particular bitterness just now because of an utterance of Eisner at the Bern congress to the effect that Germany did not wish the return of her prisoners. Eisner is to address a mass meeting tomorrow evening on the Bern congress. I intend to attend. It is believed that there will be great disorder.
- Kurt Eisner, Social-Democratic Premier of Bavaria.↩