852.00/5818: Telegram
The Ambassador in Germany (Dodd) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 23—3:25 p.m.]
142. My 141, June 23, 1 p.m.17 In our conversations this morning several ideas were put forth which might interest the Department.
The Foreign Office told us that since the purpose of Neurath’s visit to London was to discuss general political questions it was felt that for him to go there in view of the sudden Leipzig case would pin the conversations down to the details of its solution, thus preventing the broader discussions. Neurath yesterday seemed visibly upset by the change of his plans. Nevertheless and quite naively there seemed an almost entire failure at the Foreign Office to comprehend how closely associated were the Leipzig affair, the Neurath visit and the [Page 337] remarkable opportunity for the improvement of Anglo-German relations, occasioned and reflected by the new British Ambassador’s attitude; an example perhaps of the amazing lack of political sense and tact distinguishable in Germany.
The Italian Embassy discussed at some length its general lack of faith in the efficacy of the naval control in Spanish affairs unless entered into in a far more comprehensive scale than at present. It emphasized the nervousness of the German naval authorities about the safety of their ships which Italian Embassy believed was especially the case because this was the first so-called “foreign” venture of the German Navy or indeed of the German armed forces since the war. Italy had had the Abyssinian affair in which she had come through successfully. Italy therefore could and did take a calm view of this sort of thing. Germany on the other hand was so to speak a debutante in this regard and was therefore quite nervous over the success of this first appearance as well as with regard to keeping the small navy intact.
We have the impression that this question of the safety of the German ships has been playing a considerable role in the whole affair. Failing to see the wood for the trees, Germany views the matter more immediately on the naval plane, failing perhaps to appreciate the greater advantages for the country’s present and future in the successful operation of a four power consultation arrangement with all its implications of future development with respect to general European affairs.
While in our conversations with the Italian Embassy they seemed to appreciate the unfortunate blow to “four power pact” development implicit in the present situation yet we could not but feel that they were enormously relieved at the failure of the Neurath visit (please see last paragraph of our 140, June 22, 6 p.m.18).
This morning’s and afternoon newspapers concentrate their abusive attention on England with particular reference to Eden.
Copies to London, Rome, Paris, Geneva.