862.00/3286: Telegram
The Ambassador in Germany (Dodd) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 2—4 p.m.]
126. Your 82, July 1, noon. It is as yet too early to unravel cross threads of conspiracy which, thanks to energetic intervention of Chancellor himself, the cooperation of Goering and police with presumptive tacit approval of Reichswehr has today been officially declared liquidated. The position of Roehm seems comparatively clear. He had been aiming to obtain as party’s chief of staff predominant position in the country’s armed forces and latterly he and his associates appear to have intended to supplant Hitler. Roehm was considered as a man of the left wing of the party and one of those who believed that a second more radical revolution was necessary. His elimination therefore while primarily a stern lesson in party discipline would seem to indicate the temporary dissolution of a call for strength of the radicals and to that extent increased strength to the conservative elements which desire a more liberal domestic and foreign policy with eventual monarchist leanings.
The killing of Schleicher under circumstances which are not clear, the alleged deaths of one or two of Von Papen’s followers, rumors that he and other conservative Ministers are under a cloud if not under arrest prescribe that this deduction should be made with all reserve. That Schleicher was an intriguer and that he is alleged to have previously attempted to sow discord in Nazi Party afforded a measure of support for otherwise inexplicable official version that he was in league with Roehm.
It is popularly supposed that France was the foreign power with which according to official version Roehm was dealing. This allegation would find certain confirmation in known desire of French [Page 231] Ambassador for reform in German Government such as would be conducive to less intransigeance in international politics. Another enigma is the position of Goebbels. Considered as a man of the left he broadcasts himself as having been closely associated with Hitler and his personal rival Goering in suppressing Roehm and other malcontents with whom in the popular mind he was associated.
The assumption made in my telegram No. 12120 which events so far seem to have justified is based on the supposition that no radical change can be effected without consent of Reichswehr. In the absence of orders from Hindenburg whose health gives grave cause for apprehension or a more serious internal situation it is not thought that this body will consider conditions ripe for active support for political changes.
- Dated June 27, 11 a.m., not printed.↩