500.A15A4/1532: Telegram
The Chargé in Germany (Gordon) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 15—noon.]
207. My telegram No. 203, October 8, 1 p.m. The press this morning having published Germany’s refusal to go to Geneva for the proposed four-power conference I called upon Dr. Dieckhoff and reminded him of our conversation of October 8. He said that it was quite true that the position of the German Government on that day was as he had expressed it to me but he then gave me to understand that the more the German Government thought about it the less it liked the idea of Geneva and the more convinced it became that if it went there it would be in an anomalous position. In this connection he argued that as commissions of the Disarmament Conference were now actively in session in Geneva for Germany to go there would seem as if she were again in effect attending the Disarmament Conference which she had definitely declared she would not do as long as her claims to equality were not recognized. Accordingly [Page 465] as early as last Tuesday, October 11th, the German Government had instructed its Chargés d’Affaires in London and Paris, that Geneva would be unacceptable to Germany and so when MacDonald made his latest definite suggestion of holding the conference in Geneva he was aware of Germany’s objection thereto.
Although as indicated above Dieckhoff’s explanation of Germany’s present position was in effect that she would be beset with pitfalls if she went to Geneva the definite change of attitudes from that of last week may perhaps be ascribed to Neurath who was not in Berlin when Germany’s acceptance of the English invitation was framed and who may feel that in view of the stand he has previously taken Geneva is personally impossible for him.
The British Chargé d’Affaires informed me that when he yesterday delivered the invitation to go to Geneva to Neurath the latter, while stating that Geneva was out of the question and that he much preferred London, said in effect that Germany would agree to any other place but Geneva though Lausanne would only be accepted as a last resort. In his conversation with me Dieckhoff took occasion to emphasize this latter point and stated definitely that this was the German position; he added that if it was impossible to agree on London The Hague would appear to be the most acceptable alternative.
This attitude of the German Government has not yet been made clear through the press which this morning in most cases treated Germany’s answer as a bare refusal to go to Geneva. Taking the question on this basis the initial comment this morning (which necessarily was superficial) was one of distinct approval in the press of the right whereas the moderate and left press has not yet committed itself.