500.A15A4 General Committee/800: Telegram
The Ambassador in Germany (Dodd) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 26—12:45 p.m.]
44. My 42, February 23. Following supplementary information received at the Foreign Office.
[Page 27]In conversation with Eden the Chancellor stated that if a short-time army (300,534) were to be agreed to he would be willing that party troops should neither have nor be trained in use of military weapons, that they should not be drilled by officers, be located in camps or hold field maneuvers. Hitler insisted on immediate concession of scouting and pursuit aircraft allowing 2 years for decision whether bombers should be generally discontinued.
German position stated to be adverse to any conference of powers unless chances of success overwhelming; a conference with a large number of small powers would be particularly unwelcome.