550.S1/596: Telegram

The Chargé in Great Britain (Atherton) to the Secretary of State

72. From Davis. Leaving Tuesday morning the 4th for Paris and am considering going to Berlin from Paris Friday evening for brief visit. As I explained to you recently I had planned to visit Berlin on my last trip at the German Government’s rather urgent invitation and Neurath13 had made all arrangements but I was prevented at the last moment from going. Consequently I received a letter in New York from Neurath expressing the hope that I would go to Berlin upon my return to Europe. In view of this I sent word to Neurath informally, that if he still wished to have me go to Berlin I would endeavor to do so at a time that was mutually agreeable. A reply came from Neurath today through the German Ambassador14 here that he would like very much to have me come to Berlin, that he was planning to leave there next Saturday to be gone until the 24th and that he would like to have me come either this week or after the 24th. Feeling that I could not leave before Friday evening and realizing that I could not well go after the 24th since the Disarmament Conference convenes on the 25th I informed the German Ambassador that if Neurath found it convenient to delay his departure for 1 day I would leave Friday night if possible and spend Saturday and perhaps Sunday in Berlin. I feel that a trip to Berlin is important since it would be difficult to size up the situation as regards disarmament without learning at first hand the attitude of the present government and also feel that it is desirable to get their attitude about the Economic Conference.15 If for any reason you do not think advisable for me to [Page 80] make the proposed visit now please cable me Tuesday at Paris as 1 must give a definite answer to Neurath by Wednesday. [Davis.]

Atherton
  1. Konstantin von Neurath, German Minister for Foreign Affairs.
  2. Leopold von Hoesch.
  3. For correspondence relating to the Monetary and Economic Conference, held in London, June 12–July 27, see pp. 452 ff.