500.A15A4 General Committee/688: Telegram
The Ambassador in Germany (Dodd) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received December 9—11:05 a.m.]
198. Yesterday the British Ambassador47 called to say that he had had a second conference with the Chancellor and that a strong emphasis was placed upon two ideas; namely, that Germany should be permitted to have one-fourth of armament strength of her neighbors (see also my telegram 176 of October 2048). If that were agreed to he [Page 328] insisted that a 10 year pact ought to be arranged and that the general supervisory commission would be approved in Germany. My British colleague asked that I report this to Washington and express the hope that the United States might lend its support. He showed me all communications exchanged between his office and London during the past week and stated that he had requested these be forwarded to Washington also.
The Ambassador said that he raised the question of the gradual discontinuance of the S. A.49 and S. S.50 organizations but that the Chancellor shrugged his shoulders and restated his request for 300,000 armed regulars. I agree with the British Ambassador that the S. A. and S. S. men could hardly be dismissed under the present regime. We both think however that under international supervision, these organizations might be slowly reduced and made less belligerent.
These interviews between the British Ambassador and the Chancellor as well as the semi-approval of the British Government seem to me to indicate an improving attitude of which advantage ought to be taken.
I would like this message to be conveyed to the President.