862.00/3056: Telegram
The Ambassador in Germany (Dodd) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 18—11:50 a.m.]
129. The following circular invitation issued to the entire diplomatic corps was received yesterday: [Page 256]
“In his capacity as leader of the National Socialist German Labor Party the Reich Chancellor apprised the Foreign Office of the fact that he would be pleased if he could welcome the accredited chiefs of mission in Berlin as his guests participating in the ceremonies which will take place in Nuremberg on September 2nd and 3rd on the occasion of the caucus of his party.
It is planned to despatch a special train of sleeping cars from Berlin to Nuremberg on the eve of September 1st which would also be at the disposal of the chiefs of mission during their sojourn in that city and would bring back to Berlin the guests of honor of the Reich Chancellor on the eve of September 3rd. The attending gentlemen shall consider themselves the personal guests of the Reich Chancellor during the trip and during their sojourn in Nuremberg. Special notification will be issued later regarding the exact schedule of the special train.
In order to be able to make the necessary arrangements in good time the Foreign Office would appreciate information by August 21 as to whether the participation of the Chief of your Mission in the above mentioned ceremonies in Nuremberg may be depended on. [”]
Preliminary inquiry indicates that the invitation has caused much perturbation among the chiefs of mission aside from those (Italian, Hungarian, et cetera) who automatically would accept.
Although something like this may have occurred in the earlier days of the Fascist régime I have as yet encountered no one who can recall it and various chiefs of mission, feeling that this is an entirely unprecedented matter, are referring it to their Foreign Offices. I believe that many of these latter are inclined to regard the invitation as provocative and would be glad to refuse it if they could see their way to doing so.
It must also be taken into account that the Government has shown no interest whatsoever in letting the various chiefs of mission, waiting to present their letters of credence, know when they might expect to be received by the President. Now, upon the issuance of this invitation, the Foreign Office intimates that the President will come to Berlin on August 30th or 31st to receive these chiefs unless they all decline the invitation in which case it is intimated that he may delay his return until October; as there are some eight chiefs of mission in this situation including the Hungarian, this latter contingency can scarcely be expected to materialize.
You will readily appreciate the fundamental substantive importance of the issue raised and I urgently request full instructions.