762.65/89
The Ambassador in Germany (Dodd) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received January 6, 1934.]
Sir: In continuation of despatch No. 341 of December 12, 1933,66 I have the honor to report that the visit of the Italian Secretary of State in the Foreign Ministry, Suvich, to Germany took place exactly according to the program outlined in the despatch above under reference.
On December 16, the day after Suvich had left Berlin for Cologne, the entire German press published a communiqué stating that:
“The visit of the Italian Secretary of State Suvich to Berlin offered an opportunity to discuss at length quite a number of political and economic questions. All matters which there was occasion to discuss in this connection were discussed in these conversations. The discussion was conducted throughout in a friendly spirit. On the other hand, decisions were not reached, and no common action was planned. Neither the one nor the other was, from the beginning, the object of this visit. Nevertheless these conversations brought about very valuable results as it thereby again proved to be the case that a decided parallelism of interests and actions exists on both sides.”
The semi-official Deutsche Diplomatisch-Politische Korrespondenz devoted its issue of December 15 to Suvich’s visit, saying that it, as well as Russia’s new contacts with America and Italy, indicated that, in [Page 270] addition to the League of Nations and the military alliances, there also existed normal friendly relations between independent and equal powers which were far more suitable for the solution of international problems than all “artificial constructions”. The Italian Government had now been informed of Germany’s policies, thus obviating the possibility of misunderstandings. Disarmament, the League, and Central Europe had doubtless been the main subjects discussed. Italy was the only one of the victor countries whose official policies had been dictated by recognition of the faulty construction of the present European status, and had thus for years shown great understanding for Germany’s fight for equal rights and security.
In this connection it is interesting to note that, according to reports from Rome and Vienna, published in the German press today, Suvich is to go to Vienna the middle of next month to pay a return call for Chancellor Dollfuss’ recent visit to Mussolini. Following so shortly after his visit to Germany, Suvich’s trip to Austria admits of two interpretations. Either he is to contribute to a solution of the Austro-German problem, or the impression so assiduously propagated here, that Mussolini is particularly friendly to Germany, is to be counteracted by a similar exhibition of attention to Austria.
Inside information has not been forthcoming as to the tenor of the conversations between Mr. Suvich and the German Government. One colleague, however, had the information that the Italian Government did not view with favor the proposed increase of the German army, as it would call for an increase of the Italian army, which in turn would mean added expenses.
Respectfully yours,
- Not printed.↩