701.6263/26
The Minister in Austria (Messersmith) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 17.]
Sir: I have the honor to inform the Department that Herr von Papen, the German Minister to Austria arrived here on October 3, from Budapest, in order to take up his duties in this capital.
[Page 50]As I have already informed the Department, Herr von Papen came to Vienna some weeks ago and presented his letters of credence. He stayed in Vienna only two days and returned to Germany. I saw the Foreign Minister a few days after Herr von Papen had presented his letters and he told me at that time that Herr von Papen had not indicated when he would return to Vienna to actually assume his duties, but left the impression with the Minister that he was returning to Germany until certain measures had been taken with respect to the Austrian Legion and the Headquarters of the Austrian National Socialist Party at Munich, which he felt were essential as preliminary to his assumption of duty. The Foreign Minister at that time expressed to me the pessimistic attitude of the Austrian Government with respect to the probable activities of Herr von Papen.
In the interval between the presentation of his letters and immediate departure for Germany, and his arrival here on October 3, the activities of the new German Minister have been the subject of considerable speculation here and elsewhere. I am informed in official circles in Austria that Herr von Papen made a number of ineffectual efforts to talk with Chancellor Hitler with the object of getting the assurances and instructions which he wished to have before definitely taking up his duties. Well informed persons here, and this is substantiated by press despatches from Germany, state that he finally succeeded in seeing the Chancellor about two weeks ago and had several long conversations with him. After the finish of these conversations the press carried reports that Herr von Papen was going to visit in Hungary a member of the Hungarian Parliament in order to shoot on his estate, but that the visit was of an entirely private character. This member of Parliament whom Herr von Papen was to visit is known to be very favorably inclined towards the National Socialist Government in Germany and has been actively involved in the conversations and visits which have taken place in recent months between members of the Hungarian Government and representatives of the National-Socialist Government in Germany.
Herr von Papen went to Budapest by airplane from Germany about ten days ago, and after a very brief stay in Budapest went to the estate of his friend, and later returned to Budapest. On October 3, just before leaving Budapest by automobile for Vienna he gave the following interview to the representatives of the Vienna Neue Freie Presse:
“I found myself very happy in Hungary. I was especially interested in the shooting which turned out wonderfully well. The finest stag which I shot is to be sent to me to Vienna. I had the opportunity while I was here to talk with Minister-President Goemboes, and in the course of our conversation we touched on a number of general problems. [Page 51] Now I am going to Vienna to again take up my work. I do not know when I shall be coming to Budapest again, but Vienna is really so near, and I hope to come therefore to Budapest again very soon.”
I saw the Foreign Minister, Baron Berger-Waldenegg, this morning by appointment made some days ago, in order to get his impressions of his stay in Geneva. During the course of the conversation the Foreign Minister informed me that the German Minister was coming to see him during the morning. It was obvious that he was keenly interested in what Herr von Papen would have to say. He stated to me that the Austrian Government had so far no indications whatever of the nature of Herr von Papen’s instructions and what direction his conversation or activities would take. It was quite clear, however, that the developments in Germany and in Austria and in the general situation have in no sense increased the hopes of the Austrian Government that anything to ameliorate the situation between Germany and Austria can develop out of the new Minister’s activities here.
The visit which Herr von Papen made to Budapest and the personal character of which was so much emphasized, has not created a good impression here, and has caused a good deal of speculation not only here, but in other capitals. It is now quite clear that he made this trip to Hungary specifically for the purpose of conferring with Minister-President Goemboes before the latter makes his visit to Warsaw, and also to have the opportunity of meeting and talking with Hungarians gathered at the shooting party for this specific purpose. That he should have made this visit before taking up his duties here has not increased the degree of personal or official confidence placed here in Herr von Papen and has not in any way made more easy the obviously difficult task which he has before him.
The general impression in official circles in Vienna, so far as I am able to learn it, is that the new German Minister comes with no specific promises or assurances to the Austrian Government. It is felt here that German diplomatic action will be increasingly exerted in Warsaw, Belgrade, Sofia, and Budapest with the objective of making any French-Italian agreement impossible, and that while this diplomatic action is in progress the German Minister here will mark time and content himself with the assurances that the German Government is in no sense interfering, and will not interfere, in internal matters in Austria.
I will not fail to inform the Department of any developments in this connection of which I may learn.
Respectfully yours,