862.20/932: Telegram
The Ambassador in Germany (Dodd) to the Secretary of State
[Received 10:15 a.m.]
84. Germany yesterday replied unequivocally but with certain reservations to the League Council resolution87 through its missions to the various powers according to an official communiqué released last evening.
The Reich reply that the governments do not have the right to set themselves up in judgment over Germany, that the resolution of the Council represents a renewed attempt to discriminate against Germany, and that it is therefore most decidedly repudiated. At the same time the Reich Government informed the foreign governments that it reserves the right to announce shortly its attitude on the individual questions touched upon in the resolution.
In spite of the unanimous decision of the Council the Reich is emboldened by the possible failure of the French-Russian rapprochement [Page 332] although French sources here state France’s commitments to Czechoslovakia will force her agreement and France is not in a position to take aggressive measures even under encouragement from Italy and the Chancellor’s view of the situation from the heights of maintained internal popularity.88
On the other hand Reichswehr officials believe Germany must eventually capitulate as in case of invasion lack of equipment would prevent even defensive action at present and the Foreign Office is becoming increasingly alarmed over the military encirclement which may lead additional states to Little Entente persuasion after the Rome conference.
Press reports of Foreign Office rude lecture to the British Ambassador regarding British cooperation with France and Italy are unfounded.