862.00/2569
The Ambassador in Germany (Sackett) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 15.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that on Sunday, November 16, and Sunday, November 30, various local elections were held in Germany which revealed a distinctly disturbing tendency.
Brief reference to the first set of these local elections has already been made in my despatch No. 610 of November 19 (section 4),5 but in view of the emphasis which last Sunday’s elections gave to the trend already manifested, I feel that I should draw the Department’s attention more particularly to the disquieting nature thereof
It was to have been hoped that after the show of energy and vigor furnished by the Chancellor and his Cabinet throughout the autumn, particularly as exemplified during the brief Reichstag session in mid-October, the wave of recklessness and disgust which swept over [Page 91] the country at the time of the Reichstag elections in September would have somewhat abated, or at worst remained stationary, although the Embassy has recognized, and frequently reported to that effect, that the causes leading to the great increase in the extremist, and especially the Nazi, vote would remain latent and potentially operative throughout this difficult winter; in other words, that if a new dissolution of the Reichstag—thus further discrediting the Parliamentary regime as heretofore applied—should occur prior to next spring, the resulting elections would inevitably result in further Communist, and even greater Nazi, gains.
The local elections of November 16 and 30 above referred to, however, in every case show extremist gains, with those of the Nazis far exceeding the Communists’, and with all other parties of national importance, except the Center, showing substantial losses. More disquieting still, in last Sunday’s elections in Bremen the Nazis polled in round numbers 51,000 votes compared to 26,000 cast by them as recently as the Reichstag elections of September 14, and in Bielefeld (Westphalia) 17,000 as against 11,000 in September.
It should also be noted that in the elections to the Danzig Diet on November 16 the Nazis captured 31,000 votes as compared to 1500 in the 1927 elections, and thus became the second largest party in the Diet.
When it is remembered that, aside from Danzig, the elections of these two Sundays were held in such different parts of the country as Baden, Mecklenburg, Bremen, Bielefeld and Lübeck, it will be seen that the spread of the Nazi doctrines is not confined to any one section and that the tide of Hitlerism not only has not yet spent itself but is still in full flow.
Undoubtedly Hitler’s lieutenants, who are constantly gaining greater experience in demagogism, have been able cleverly to exploit local causes of unrest and discontent. Nevertheless, these widespread local votes cannot be discounted on that basis alone, and they constitute an impressive warning of what, in spite of all the Chancellor’s good work, is still to be expected should he be forced to dissolve the Reichstag and hold another general election. My despatch No. 632 of this date,6 dealing with other aspects of the internal political situation, advances certain considerations concerning the avoidance of the contingency just referred to, and I venture to suggest that it be read in conjunction with this despatch.
Respectfully yours,