701.6263/27
The Minister in Austria (Messersmith) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 31.]
Sir:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
I think it is quite clear that what I have said in previous despatches about the probability that Herr von Papen would come without any specific instructions which would tend to alleviate the Austro-German situation is substantiated by developments so far. During this last stay here I am reliably informed that he twice saw the Minister for Foreign Affairs and had two conversations with Chancellor Schuschnigg. From what I have been able to learn, he had nothing definite to offer in any of these conversations and avoided the discussion of the outstanding problems in Austro-German relations except in the most general terms. The Austrian Government had looked forward to the second arrival of Herr von Papen as it was quite reliably informed that he had seen Chancellor Hitler at least once immediately before proceeding to Budapest and thence to Vienna. I saw the Foreign Minister, Baron Berger-Waldenegg, yesterday in the Foreign Office on some other matters and remarked that Herr von Papen had called on me, but that I gathered that he probably came without very specific instructions. To this opportunity the Foreign Minister very frankly responded with the statement that he had had several conversations with Herr von Papen, but that they had been very general and that so far as the Austrian Government had any knowledge, he had no specific instructions tending to relieve the Austro-German relationship.
This is in accord with the information which I have received from other sources. I have reliable information that during his call on the British Minister he confined himself to generalities and that the British Minister gathered the impression that Herr von Papen had no specific instructions. During his call on the Swedish Minister he was evidently more direct. The Swedish Minister here, Mr. Undén, has been at this post for a number of years and Mrs. Undén is of German origin. I am informed by a member of my staff who recently saw Mr. Undén that Mr. Undén expressed considerable displeasure with the manner in which Herr von Papen had approached him during his courtesy call. He said that Herr von Papen had come to see him and talked to him as if his country and he were an ally. He indicated that Herr von Papen had specifically expressed to him the hope that he would help him in his very difficult task in Vienna. Mr. Undén asked Herr von Papen if he had any specific instructions with respect [Page 53] to steps towards alleviating the situation between Germany and Austria, to which Herr von Papen is said to have replied practically directly that he had no specific instructions. Commenting further, the Swedish Minister said that he had no confidence in Herr von Papen and that he had less confidence in his Government and that he resented the attitude with which Herr von Papen had approached him, as certainly Sweden was not an ally of National Socialist Germany and he did not see how Herr von Papen could expect him to be of any assistance in his mission to Austria. He specifically expressed the opinion as a result of his conversation with Herr von Papen that he has no definite instructions with respect to conversations with the Austrian authorities tending towards alleviating the strained relations.
It is reliably reported here that the Austrian newspapers have received the intimation from the Government that they are to be restrained in their comment on developments in Germany and on Austro-German relations. I am informed, but have no direct official confirmation, that Herr von Papen requested that something like this be done when he called on the Foreign Minister on October 5, pointing out that the radio propaganda from Germany directed against Austria had ceased. Whether this official intimation was given to the newspapers in Austria or not, and it seems likely that it was, it has been quite evident from the comment within the last week that it has been very restrained and moderate.
I have the very distinct impression, based on what I have been able to learn so far, that Herr von Papen finds himself in a very difficult position, that he has no definite program in mind, and no definite instructions from his Government as to what he can do or as to what he can say to the Austrian Government. I believe that this present brief stay in Vienna has been for the purpose of exploring the situation and of making certain contacts. I have learned also from very well informed sources that he brought with him this time letters to various well known persons in Austrian society and that he is planning to open contacts through these people and through resuming a rather extensive entertaining in the German Legation. The former German Minister here, Dr. Reith, was a good deal isolated and although a very wealthy man and desiring to entertain, his advances were met very coolly. It seems that whatever advances Herr von Papen made during this last brief stay were met with much reserve in the quarters where he expected a friendly reception.
Herr von Papen left for Berlin by airplane, I understand, on the afternoon of October 15. There is an unconfirmed statement which has appeared in some of the Vienna papers to the effect that he is to go to Sweden to reassure the Protestant Church authorities there with [Page 54] respect to the attitude of the German Government towards the Church in general.
Herr von Tschirschky and Bögendorff and Baron von Ketteler have been named honorary attachés of the German Legation in Vienna. Herr von Tschirschky, as the Department is aware, was associated with Herr von Papen in Germany for some time and was also arrested and imprisoned for several weeks after the 30th of June, and only narrowly escaped the fate of Herr von Bose and Dr. Jung. It is reported that Baron von Hahn, who is the official representative of the D. N. B. (Deutsches Nachrichten Büro) at the German Legation here and who it is understood has been handling the German money which came into Austria in such considerable sums to aid the National Socialist movement, and who is considered as the direct representative of the Party in the Legation in order to keep track of the activities of the Minister, is to be transferred to the German Legation in Budapest. It is not improbable that because of the unsavory reputation which Baron von Hahn has acquired through these activities Herr von Papen may have found it desirable to have him replaced here by someone less objectionable in Austrian circles.
Respectfully yours,