862.00/2718
Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State (Castle)
The German Ambassador brought up the recent election in Germany,12 saying that the result was a foregone conclusion but that, nevertheless, it was satisfactory to have the matter settled. He said that he was still worried, however, because elections were coming [Page 291] for the Prussian Diet, elections of great significance, and he felt that Tardieu’s attacks would have a very bad effect. He pointed out the fact that, at the time of the last election when Hindenburg had a majority of a scant million, the French press pointed out with virtual unanimity that the election of Hindenburg meant the triumph of reaction in Germany and the probability, if not certainty, of a renewal of warfare. The Ambassador said that the French press always deduces from election returns just what it wishes to deduce, that this time, for example, when Hindenburg has a clear majority of several million, instead of only one million, the French press ignores the fact that he has been elected and states that the election proves that Hitler is the real master of Germany and that Hitlerism will henceforth be in the saddle, again pointing out the extreme likelihood of war. He says all this makes Bruening’s position very difficult, whereas it is a moment when Bruening should get all the support possible; also, because of the irritation it will cause, may well have the effect of swinging the Prussian election more to the right.
- The vote in the election of April 10, according to preliminary official returns as reported in despatch No. 1639, April 12, from the Ambassador in Germany, was: Hindenburg, 19,359,642 or 53 percent; Hitler, 13,417,460 or 36.8 percent; Thaelmann, 3,706,388 or 10.2 percent (862.00/2722).↩