662.1112/69
Memorandum by the Secretary of State
During his call, the German Ambassador42 complained that the present Mayor of New York43 and another official there had made [Page 509] public utterances urging the boycotting of German goods brought to this country. He insisted that an official of an important branch of the government here should not be allowed to indulge in such unfriendly and unjustifiable conduct. I replied that, of course, this was a part of the old Jewish racial controversy with which he and his fellow-citizens in Germany were entirely familiar. I said if it were possible for me to have conclusive facts to the effect that Jews had not been unfairly treated or seriously mistreated in Germany, so that I could confront persons in this country like the Mayor of New York with such facts and then insist that they refrain from preaching a boycott, I could doubtless succeed. I continued to say that, unfortunately, these people here had very definite ideas and convictions about the treatment of the Jews by Germans, with the result that the Ambassador could appreciate how difficult, not to say how impossible, it was for me to make effective remonstrances or representations to persons like the Mayor of New York. I said I regretted that these occurrences had arisen, and nothing would please me quite so much as to see the whole racial controversy quieted. I said I would give attention to his complaint and see whether anything could be done in connection with the matter.