Office of the Historian

760F.62/11177/10

Memorandum of Trans-Atlantic Telephone Conversation Between the Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy) and the Under Secretary of State (Welles)87

[Washington,] September 27, 1938—5:45 p.m.

Kennedy: Hello, Sumner, there was a cabinet meeting at nine and that is what kept me so long. … has gone upstairs to finish his [Page 680] speech for tomorrow. … impression about the meeting today. It is his belief that the time for admonishment has gone by. He does not believe that any arguments now are of any particular value. He thinks there is only one possible suggestion that he might make. … some excerpt from Hitler’s letter to the Prime Minister. He was not particularly encouraging. There is probably just a shred of encouragement. It is not anything you can really put your finger on. This is it: If the President wants to say anything, this is probably the only thing that might be of service. The President understands that Hitler has written the Prime Minister a letter today … there are still indications that in the very few days that are left everyone should do the best they can to try and solve this problem. That is about the gist of it. It is quite unsatisfactory. I asked, “Do you feel any better, having got the note?” He said, “Not much.” He said, “There is a danger that he may march tomorrow.” That is what he is afraid of tonight, that Hitler may march tomorrow and not wait until Saturday. He is in a completely bitter mood and is not open to argument or discussion. When it is all finished, there is still a very grave doubt in his mind that he may march tomorrow. That is all I can give you, but it is not a very satisfactory thing you are doing business with.

Welles: I am going over to see the President now and I will give him your message and I think he will send his message tonight without fail.

Kennedy: That is about all. Bearing in mind that he is convinced . . . . There seemed to be a good bit of resentment against everybody admonishing him. He thought that might be used by the President in formulating a plan. The only thing was to take Hitler’s speech—the fact that he has written to the Prime Minister—and so out of that there is a chance still to do something and call upon everybody to do the best they can in the remaining few hours.

Welles: I see. All right, Joe.

  1. The transcription of this conversation is badly garbled. Presumably this reports conversation between Ambassador Kennedy and Prime Minister Chamberlain following previous trans-Atlantic telephone conversation at 3 p.m. reported in memorandum on p. 678.↩