760F.62/866: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 17—10 a.m.]
950. The Cabinet meeting is still on but I asked Cadogan to see me and bring me something to report at once. He says that Chamberlain found Hitler in a very bad mood. Those around him had just reported another incident in the Sudeten area in which 300 Sudetens were killed. Chamberlain said he knew nothing of that and urged Hitler not to take it for granted unless it was confirmed. The sum and substance of the conversation after this bad start was that Hitler wants the recognition at once of the principle of self-determination. Chamberlain told him he was not prepared to make any such agreement until he had a chance to consult with the Cabinet and possibly Parliament. Hitler told Chamberlain that the latter was familiar with his ideas on race and that it was not necessary to repeat them but he insisted that something be done immediately. Chamberlain told him that he must return home and received an agreement from Hitler that he would not march—although Chamberlain was convinced that the order was about to be given when he arrived—unless an extremely big incident took place in the Sudeten area. I do not know just what comfort Chamberlain expects to get from this promise, because Cadogan says they have evidence that the groundwork is laid for an incident large enough to furnish the Germans with an excuse to come in.
Chamberlain then told Hitler that, of course, if the British did not agree to this principle and Hitler went in, England would be obliged to go in with France, and Hitler said he was perfectly willing to take on a world war.
I am leaving now to see the Military Attaché who saw Cadogan just before me and I am hoping to see Halifax at the conclusion of the Cabinet meeting. Cadogan told me this morning that Halifax had said he regarded it extremely unlikely that an agreement would be reached at the morning meeting and that they would probably have to adjourn until this afternoon or this evening.
[Page 608]I received very good information this morning that there are many rumblings among members of the Cabinet. First, they are displeased that the so-called inner Cabinet is being conferred with constantly. This inner Cabinet consists of Simon; Hoare and Halifax. In addition to that there are intimations among them that if Chamberlain tries to force the principle of self-determination there will be a row in the Cabinet.
I will send you a message on the reaction of the French Ambassador within a short time33 and an account of my talk with Halifax as soon as I can see him. Then if at all possible I will try to see the Prime Minister, either tonight or tomorrow, but I judge if he is having a row in the Cabinet he would rather not discuss the matter with anybody outside.
My own opinion from my discussions and from what I have heard from the other members of the Cabinet last night and this morning is that the issue is going to be self-determination or war and the responsibility for declaring war, I think, will be left with the anti-Chamberlain group. The Labor people up to now have played along very well but Cadogan is not sure what will happen.