760F.62/285: Telegram
The Ambassador in Germany (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 21—3:20 p.m.]
260. I am sending (my 259, May 21, 1 p.m.45) a telegram describing this morning’s press concerning incidents in Czechoslovakia in which 100 people are reported wounded. Whether true or not, the publishing of such affairs is a grave matter and tends to prepare the German people for any developments. Newspaper men tell me that further reports have been received of the shooting of two Sudeten Deutsche by Czech troops.
Both the British and French Ambassadors regard the situation as really serious. Henderson has obtained instructions from his Government to keep in close touch with Ribbentrop and to persist in his advice for moderation. It is presumed that similar action is being taken at Praha. According to press sources, concentrations of the Czech Army are taking place. The British Minister at Praha has telegraphed rumors of German troop movements but neither Henderson nor ourselves has any confirmation thereof.
While this does not necessarily mean an outbreak of hostilities either now or later, the tension is in many respects alarming. It does mean, [Page 507] however, that tension will continue in Europe unless and until this problem of the Sudeten Germans is liquidated.
I have been giving serious consideration as to whether there is any step which I can propose to you which might be useful. You might wish to consider whether it would be advisable to instruct Carr and myself to say orally to the respective Ministers for Foreign Affairs that the United States is concerned at the dangerous situation which seems to be developing, that the only interest of the United States in the matter is the preservation of peace in Europe as elsewhere, that my Government earnestly hopes that a peaceful solution to this problem will be found.
I believe that, in order that such a step may carry any weight, approach must be made to both parties to the dispute and thus be essentially non-partisan. However, the resentment in the German Government against America is such that suggestions from us may not carry the full weight which they would under ordinary circumstances.
- Not printed.↩