863.00/1485: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 15—3:25 p.m.]
217. The Prime Minister’s speech75 in the House of Commons yesterday gives the summary of the events leading up to the German occupation in Austria. He describes the strong British protest of March 11 “against such use of cohesion backed by force”. Such action was bound “to produce the gravest consequences of which it was impossible to foretell the issue”. He then referred to the full text of Von Neurath’s opportunities, [sic]76 revealing for the first time the arrogance and thinly veiled contempt with which the German Government met the British representations. His statement that Germany’s method “calls for the severest condemnation” was met with loud cheers. Concerning Czechoslovakia, however, he in no way committed the British Government to support that country in case of attack. He concluded by stating that Great Britain’s defense program would have to be reviewed in the light of the development in the international situation.
The debate that followed revealed a most striking unanimity in the House for accelerating the rearmament and defense program and for resisting German expansion in Europe and the colonies. This unanimity extends to all sections of press comment this morning which agrees that preparedness must be speeded up. The opposition papers, however, advocate the immediate organization of collective security as the only means of ultimately defending the British Empire.
There is much speculation in the press as to what measures the Government will adopt to stimulate rearmament. The consensus is that some sort of industrial mobilization for aircraft production will ensue.
The references to Anglo-German relations in Ward Price’s report in the Daily Mail of his interview with Hitler on Sunday have received some attention here. When asked if developments in Austria would have any effect on the Anglo-German conversations, Hitler is reported to have replied “on our side, none at all, and I hope [none] on the British side. What harm have we done to any foreign country? Whose interests have we hurt by falling in with the will of the overwhelming majority of the Austrian people to become [Page 448] Germans?” When asked for his reaction to the Anglo-French note of protest, Hitler is quoted as saying “I cannot understand it. These people here are Germans.”