840.48 Refugees/946: Telegram
The Chargé in Germany (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 22—2:40 p.m.]
647. The British Chargé d’Affaires called on me this morning and read me a telegraphic instruction from his Government which touched on two points:
- (a)
- About 2 months ago an “unofficial” Englishman had a conversation in Berlin with Schacht66 in which Schacht suggested that it might be arranged that he and Brinkmann meet Rublee or some representative of the London Refugee Committee at some point outside of Germany for the purpose of “conversations” regarding the emigration of Jews from Germany. Although Schacht and Brinkmann are officials the general idea seemed to be that these conversations would be exploratory and “unofficial”—in effect they would constitute an attempt to see what might best be done and what could be done. The Englishman in question had recently told the British Foreign Office that despite the lapse of time and the intervening incidents since his conversation with Schacht he nevertheless felt that this idea could still be regarded as alive and that it was worth while pursuing it.
- (b)
- London had taken note of the pertinent portions of Ribbentrop’s conversation with Ambassador Wilson on November 15 as reported in Embassy’s No. 620, November 15, 6 p.m. (which the Ambassador [Page 840] had imparted to the British Chargé d’Affaires who had in turn transmitted it in substance to London) in which Ribbentrop without committing himself indicated that he had given consideration to an unofficial meeting somewhat of the character described above.
The Chargé said that although he did not know whether there was any direct connection between the statements of Schacht and Ribbentrop they could at least be linked together as representing a common thought.
The tone of the instruction which the Chargé read to me appeared to indicate that London was anxious to proceed with some such plan if it could be consummated. The Chargé asked me if I felt I could follow up the Ambassador’s conversation with Ribbentrop by taking up this question with him again at this time. I told him that while I would acquaint my Government with the information he had imparted and what he had had to say to me I would take no action vis-à-vis the German Government without instructions.
He told me that he was intending immediately to see Schacht and to find out all that was possible from that angle which had as explained above a British background and that he would let me know the results. I told him that while I was fully inclined to credit Schacht with good intentions in such a matter that both because of the obvious change in circumstances here since the Schacht conversation and because of Schacht’s own position in the German Government I was not inclined to feel that much of value would emanate from that quarter I should, nevertheless, be most glad to learn of what he was able to ascertain.
The Chargé d’Affaires added as perhaps further indicative of the serious consideration London is giving to this matter, that his Government felt that in any such conversations it would be useful for Rublee to be accompanied by a financial expert. In reply to my inquiry the Chargé stated that he was specifically instructed to see me but that he was not taking the matter up with the French.
I would appreciate instructions giving me at least for background purposes the Department’s attitude toward any such procedure as has been described.
Repeated to London for Rublee.
- Hjalmar Schacht, German Minister without Portfolio, and President of the Reichsbank.↩