[Enclosure]
The British Embassy to
the Department of State
Aide-Mémoire
His Majesty’s Ambassador at Berlin has been instructed to inform the
Chancellor that His Majesty’s Government have carefully considered
his proposals and are now in a position to convey to him their
preliminary impressions.
[Page 329]
There are two aspects of these proposals of which the first concerns
the limitation of armaments while the other covers the wider field
of political appeasement.
To begin with the second of these aspects, to which His Majesty’s
Government attach the utmost importance, they are in entire
agreement with what appears to be the Chancellor’s view, viz., that
the achievement of an agreement on disarmament would be very greatly
facilitated were it accompanied by political assurances of a nature
to improve and consolidate good relations between Germany and her
neighbours. There then arises the question how such a purpose can be
attained. His Majesty’s Government would be interested to receive
further and more detailed advices in regard to the exact terms and
the precise form of the non-aggression pacts contemplated by the
Chancellor. It is self-evident that States members of the League of
Nations cannot enter into any arrangement which might be
inconsistent with their obligations under the Covenant. His
Majesty’s Government would also be grateful for further information
as to the countries with which Germany might negotiate such
non-aggression pacts; the preliminary list did not include all
States limitrophe to Germany.
As regards the Chancellor’s proposals concerning technical questions
of armament strength, His Majesty’s Government have two preliminary
observations to offer. Their final conclusions as to the various
figures and items concerned could only be reached after the
consultations between the different Powers, in which Germany is
herself participating, have been completed. Further, these proposals
will inevitably be compared by world opinion with those contained in
the draft Convention to which the Powers, including Germany, acceded
in principle on its first reading.
Bearing in mind the above two considerations His Majesty’s Government
desire to point out that the proposed increase from 200,000 to so
high a figure as 300,000 men will inevitably be considered as
excessive. At the same time the suggestions in regard to aircraft
and guns also appear formidable. His Majesty’s Government would like
it to be quite clear that the S. A. and S. S. would both be absorbed
in the new army and would not continue to exist as supplementary
organizations. They would also be glad if the Chancellor would
confirm their assumption that the Reichswehr would disappear as a
separate organization. His Majesty’s Government are glad to note
that the Chancellor’s proposals include general supervision, but it
would be better and clearer if it were specifically indicated that
such supervision would be of the nature described as periodic and
automatic.
The foregoing observations of His Majesty’s Government are not
intended to be exhaustive, for it is evident that other Governments
may desire to offer or to request other observations. It is,
however,
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their earnest
desire to make use of the present opportunity to cooperate with
Germany and other States in evolving without delay a practical basis
for agreement on the limitation of world armaments, to be freely
entered into by all parties. It is therefore their earnest hope that
the present enquiries addressed to the Chancellor may prove helpful
in the prosecution of this common aim.
Washington,
December 8,
1933.
