751.62/514: Telegram
The Chargé in France (Wilson) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 8—2:50 p.m.]
2076.
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In conversation with Coulondre French Ambassador at Berlin I inquired what value, in the event of Italian pressure on France, could be attached to that part of the Franco-German declaration which refers to consultation but makes a reservation of special relations with third countries; Coulondre replied that in such event France could only hope that Germany would seek to exercise a restraining influence on her ally.
The Counselor of the German Embassy with whom I talked, was quite frank on various points. Regarding the Italian claims against France, he said that Ribbentrop had stated that, while Germany had no direct interests in the Mediterranean, she nevertheless was indirectly interested because of the Rome–Berlin Axis. He said that Ribbentrop had taken particular pains to stress the fact that the Axis was as solid as ever, and that he had expressed the view that a permanent settlement of questions relating to the Mediterranean could be arrived at if Italian claims were considered “sympathetically”.
With regard to Spain the Counselor said that Ribbentrop had declared categorically that in Germany’s view a victory by Franco was essential; moreover, he said that the French “had agreed with this”. I expressed some doubt on this point but the Counselor reiterated his statement.
One of the head men of the Havas Service said to me: “The conversations have been a complete fiasco from the French point of view”.
The impression made on me by the reception at the German Embassy was not a happy one. In the corner of one room Daladier was for some time left alone with Gentin his Minister of Commerce no one paying any attention to him. In the adjoining room Ribbentrop was literally holding court with a large section of Paris society paying tribute while in the background the French Minister of Foreign Affairs hovered uneasily and unnoticed. The Germans were jubilant and noisy while the members of the French Government and French Foreign Office officials seemed ill at ease and depressed.