500.A15A4 General Committee/350: Telegram
The American Delegate ( Wilson ) to the Secretary of State
Geneva
, May 10,
1933—10 p.m.
[Received 10:20 p.m.]
[Received 10:20 p.m.]
636. My 635, May 10, 4 p.m. Eden saw Nadolny again this afternoon and showed the latter the memorandum he had prepared setting forth what he understood to be Nadolny’s attitude this morning (see last sentence of paragraph 1 of telegram under reference) with which Nadolny agreed. The memorandum contained four points substantially as follows:
- (a)
- Trained reserves to be included in some form in compilation of effectives.
- (b)
- Some special treatment of overseas forces near the home land in computation of effectives.
- (c)
- Acceptance in principle of standardization of Continental land forces details to be worked out by experts if required regarding material,
- [(d)]
- A statement of the right of Germany to quantitative equality but Germany would expressly state in some form to be worked out in the table of allotment its willingness not to put this allotment into practical effect during the life of the convention.
- 2.
- Eden showed this memorandum to Massigli and Soragna this afternoon and discussed it with them after his conversation with Nadolny.
- 3.
- Massigli did not appear unduly pessimistic.
- 4.
- Soragna who incidentally has shown a very reasonable and helpful attitude throughout indicated that his Government was opposed to rearmament. Eden, however, does not know exactly how strictly his Government interprets “rearmament”. Soragna thought it likely that the Germans were primarily more interested in point 4 of the memorandum, that is to say, in equality of material, than in the retention of the Reichswehr. Eden felt rather the same although neither of these two have any definite idea as to just what Germany understands by a willingness to refrain from availing of any allotment as to material which might appear in a convention; for example, if the table for airplanes allotted an equality with the other principal powers whether Germany would be satisfied during the life of the convention with say 25 or so planes.
- 5.
- In discussing the memorandum with Nadolny, Eden said that for his part he would be willing to proceed with it as a basis for discussion if point 4 were eliminated. With point 4 included he could not feel it a practical basis for consideration. With this point of view I agreed.
- 6.
- Eden is going to see Nadolny again tomorrow morning and there is a meeting of the five scheduled for tomorrow afternoon when Eden will make a report on the entire matter. Eden now feels as I do that he has carried on his informal single handed negotiations with Nadolny as far as they may be profitable.
Repeated to Davis.
Wilson