852.00/5815: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Bingham) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 23—3:40 p.m.]
400. With reference to my telegram 398, June 22, 4 p.m.,16…
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Foreign Office in discussing Eden’s meeting with the three Ambassadors yesterday stated the Germans at first presented very stiff demands which in the course of the discussions they very much modified and finally only insisted that there should be some demonstration of solidarity by the non-intervention powers in the face of the Valencia Government. The French, however, were unwilling to consider any demonstration at any time unless it was made simultaneously before the Franco and the Valencia Governments. The British took the line that due to their traditional position they must insist on an investigation first which the Germans feared would occupy extended time and “lead eventually only to the Hague Court”. Foreign Office remarked on the helpful attitude of Italy in an attempt to modify the German stand and reach a compromise agreement.
However, the failure of yesterday’s meeting resulted in the communiqué of last night, and today the Foreign Secretary has announced in Parliament that the German and Italian ships have withdrawn from the naval patrol but not from the Non-intervention Committee. The Foreign Office understands that the June 12 agreement, since it has not been denounced, still stands for future occasions and that it is abrogated by the Germans only in the case of this one Leipzig incident. The Leipzig incident occurred at a moment when Hitler was just returning from the funeral of the Deutschland victims when all the Nazi Party were very much worked up.
[Page 336]There is a feeling here that possibly Neurath may be able to persuade Hitler to modify his position taken yesterday and Ambassador Ribbentrop leaves here tonight for Berlin. Foreign Office stressed again that the June 12 agreement between the four powers was badly received in Moscow and that the Leipzig incident disrupting further the Non-Intervention Committee follows on its heels. Foreign Office also pointed out that yesterday evening Paris was sending out rumors of an international crisis over the break up of yesterday’s meeting which were consciously exaggerated. Delbos had even called up Eden at midnight but failed to excite him according to the Foreign Office since it was patent that the international situation was being exploited by the new French Government to broaden the bases of its support at home. Foreign Office stated that for other reasons the Soviets were also interested in exaggerating rumor. I am informed by a foreign press correspondent who incidentally has close contacts with the Soviet Embassy that he learned today that the American Ambassador in Berlin would be instructed to make representations urging moderation upon Germany. Foreign Office in conclusion stated the immediate problems would be taken up in an early meeting of the Nonintervention Committee involving such questions as determining the nationality of vessels to take over the work of German and Italian patrol and whether German and Italian warships would be withdrawn from Spanish waters or remain there pending the settlement of the Leipzig incident. Foreign Office stressed there was no crisis and that the Non-intervention Committee in which Germany and Italy were represented offered a normal means of dealing with current problems.
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