740.0011 Mutual Guarantee (Locarno)/702
The Chargé in Germany (Mayer) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 5.]
Sir: I have the honor to report that recently our Military Attaché spoke to me of an interesting conversation which he had had, respecting military issues pending between France, Great Britain and Germany, with Dr. Dieckhoff, head of the newly organized Political Division of the German Foreign Office.
Dr. Dieckhoff indicated to him that the German Government would not give way in the slightest degree with respect to the remilitarization and refortification of the Rhineland. As a result of the German Government’s note to the British, of April 1, the former feels itself bound for four months not to increase the strength of the Rhineland garrison and not to move the garrison any closer to the frontier. Meanwhile, Germany has not offered or bound itself to refrain from fortifying the Rhineland, and has no intention so to bind itself. That, Dr. Dieckhoff said, has been made quite clear to the British Government.
It is interesting to note that this four months’ period expires August 1st, i. e., coincident with the Olympics. Should the present diplomatic negotiations between France, Great Britain and Germany fail to produce an agreement on or about August 1st, Germany would doubtless feel freed from any promises made with respect to these negotiations. The Military Attaché considers therefore that Germany may well proceed after that date greatly to strengthen her western garrisons and to regroup these garrisons in the manner best suited for defence against any French attack.
[Page 311]The implication from Dr. Dieckhoff’s remarks that fortifications had been begun, or were about to begin in the near future, supports the statement made to me recently by a reliable American newspaper man, to the effect that one of his German acquaintances in the Foreign Office had let slip the fact that the Germans had really begun seriously to fortify the Rhineland. Furthermore, the French Ambassador said to me the other day that he was quite convinced that the Germans had begun to fortify the Rhineland, not in massive proportions such as the Maginot line, but by a succession of strong points.
Respectfully yours,