711.6212Anti-War/66: Telegram
The Ambassador in Germany (Schurman) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4:28 p.m.]
158. Your 81, July 23, noon.6 I have just talked at some length with Schubert. He declared emphatically that Germany would not oppose inclusion of any specific power in addition to those powers which have negotiated the treaty, but he is convinced that to extend choice of signatories beyond present total would lead to other extensions, would give the pact a political cachet, and would arouse discussion and criticism; finally, the risk of obtaining ratification would be greatly increased.
Schubert is for the pact, earnestly and enthusiastically, and says that he is thinking of it and not of German interests. He says that it is logical as it is, and that no one can say anything against it. Any alteration, he fears, would make the treaty the sport of European politics, and he prefers that it should stay as it is, that everybody [Page 126] should join, and that nobody should be offended. He mentioned Russia and repeated a previous statment that no one had asked him to speak for Russia and that he will not appear as an intermediary. He was speaking, he said, only as one who deals with and understands high politics.
Schubert’s own view is that it would be a good thing one day to have Russia in the pact; that she is now free and that if she comes into the pact she, too, is bound. …
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
He did not know whether Russia would join or not, but he thought she should, and that it should not be made impossible for her to join.