862.00/2766: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Germany (Sackett)
60. Your 117, June 1, 11 a.m. I gather that the feeling in Germany is that the Von Papen cabinet will not be of long duration. The pending matters concerning Von Papen which might cause some embarrassment are the re-hearing of the Black Tom case16 in which Von Papen is implicated and an existing indictment against him for plotting the destruction of the Welland Canal. Nothing would arise [Page 295] under the second of these cases unless Von Papen should come to this country and the first will not be begun until November.
Under the circumstances I think you might well be guided somewhat by the British attitude with regard to Von Papen. I presume that it may be best, for the present at least, to deal with him politely but somewhat distantly. However, I leave it entirely to you to determine the attitude which will be most appropriate and most expedient.
- For correspondence relative to petitions for rehearing the Black Tom sabotage case, see ibid., 1931, vol. iii, pp. 322 ff.↩