760F.62/1055: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 24—10 a.m.]
1011. I have just talked with Cadogan. They have just received Hitler’s answers66 and they are, he believes, preposterous. Hitler not only wants what everybody was willing to give him but it looks as if he wants a great deal more. Cadogan is convinced that when the letters are made public, public opinion will go completely and bitterly anti-Hitler, not that it is not that way today, but the cause of peace has many adherents. Cadogan feels that it will now be shown [Page 643] that their policy was the right one in that they have taken every possible opportunity to demonstrate they believed there was some sanity in Hitler and to save the world from the horrible results of war. Cadogan says, of course, he is waiting for the Prime Minister’s reaction, but his own reaction is that Hitler’s answers prove there is no sanity left in the man and the only decision to make now is what England proposes to do. That question of policy is waiting on the Prime Minister’s return. Cadogan judges from the tone of these communications that it is probably only a question of a short time before Hitler will march regardless.
Halifax has gone to meet Chamberlain at the airport. On their return there will be a small conference with Cadogan, Halifax, Simon and Hoare and possibly one or two others and the Cabinet is being called at 5:30. Therefore I do not expect to have more authoritative information before 8:30 and then I will try and see sometime during the night Halifax and Chamberlain, if the latter is able to see anybody. Cadogan intimated that Chamberlain is very tired.
Oliver Stanley just told me that they are considering having the Prime Minister broadcast through England and possibly through the United States something to this effect: “I have gone as far as my conscience and reason would permit me to go and a great many people say farther than I should have gone. I tell you now that in spite of all efforts to preserve peace and sanity for the world, I do not believe this man intends to cooperate or help”. Stanley is of the opinion, with other members of the Cabinet, that this would have a tremendous influence on public opinion. They believe that the die is cast and it is only a question now of hours.
I am trying to keep you posted on all angles of this. Is there any possible angle I am missing?
- British Documents, 3d ser., vol. ii, docs. No. 1053, p. 485, and No. 1068, p. 495.↩