Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1938, General, Volume I

760F.62/485

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Ambassador in Germany (Wilson)⁶⁹

In the course of a conversation on routine matters von Weizsäcker raised the question of relations with Czechoslovakia. He said that the German press was moderately quiet but that one should not be deceived by this—the tension was there and he and other moderate minded men were growing daily more apprehensive. He felt that Beneš was being deliberately dilatory with the belief that the Konjunktur was right⁷⁰ and that he had no intention of making any real concession to Henlein.

He deplored the situation Great Britain was in. Great Britain was offering to act as mediator, but at the same time Chamberlain had made his declaration of April [March] 24⁷¹ to the effect that if France was involved there was no guarantee that Great Britain could stay out. Analyse these words and there was nothing but a statement of fact. Nevertheless, uttered in this connection it came near to guaranteeing England’s entry on behalf of Czechoslovakia. Hence any advice the British Minister gave to Beneš was counteracted by the belief in Beneš’ mind that Great Britain was with him anyhow. Weizsäcker felt strongly that Great Britain should clarify its position, not only with Beneš in private conversation, as had been done, but Chamberlain should say in public that if Beneš made no effort to settle this Sudeten Deutsche problem by peaceful methods, then he ran great risk of losing the sympathy of the British public. Such a declaration, Weizsäcker thought, would put Great Britain in a proper posture to bring its influence to bear on Beneš, and would allow them to mediate successfully this extraordinarily difficult problem and obtain a successful solution in a matter in which their responsibility was most heavily engaged.

I asked whether Weizsäcker had talked this way to Henderson. He replied that he had and that Henderson was now in England. Also von Dirksen⁷² was of course instructed in the same sense.

Hugh R. Wilson

Berlin , July 9, 1938.

69. Transmitted to the Department by the Ambassador in his despatch No. 233, July 9; received July 19.
70. i. e., the “balance of forces” was favorable.
71. In the House of Commons; Parliamentary Debates, 1937–1938, 5th ser., vol. 333, pp. 1401–1413. See also British Documents, 3d ser., vol. i, doc. No. 114. p. 95.
72. Herbert von Dirksen, German Ambassador in the United Kingdom.