840.48 Refugees/1019: Telegram
The Chargé in Germany (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 30—2:35 p.m.]
674. The Department’s 214, November 29, 4 p.m. Reference first sentence: The British Chargé d’Affaires informs me that he knows absolutely nothing of this matter beyond what I reported in my 647, November 22, 5 p.m., paragraph (a). For purposes of necessary identification the name of the individual in question is Godman. It will be noted from the first paragraph of my 656, November 25, 5 p.m.,72 that the Chargé decided to drop this lead here for fear of confusing matters both of us considering this wise in view of the unknown personal equations in the highly charged political atmosphere of Berlin. He will now, however, most discreetly feel the matter out with Schacht if possible through his financial counselor who is having somewhat frequent meetings with Schacht on other questions. If he develops anything by this means he will let me know. He says that while he does not wish to cast any aspersions on Godman whom he does not know he is inclined to think that Godman may be endeavoring to pay [play] a role without having sufficient grounds for his assertions. Naturally if by any means it could be arranged to have a competent German official proceed to London to visit Rublee it would be a development presumably much to be desired.
Reference sentence 2: The Chargé states that this is obviously a complete misreading of his telegram or a misunderstanding somewhere along the line. He states that in one of his telegrams he did mention a “high ranking emissary” but that this referred solely to the consideration which Germany appears to be giving after I had informed him of an “emissary” to some preliminary meeting with a representative of the London Committee in some nearby country. He is telegraphing his Government at once to clarify this matter.
In order that the Department may fully understand the situation here I will add that after going over the ground very carefully the Chargé d’Affaires and I agreed that in view of the direct relations I was having with the Foreign Office on this subject and taking further note of the Foreign Office’s emphasizing the strictly confidential nature of their talks with me he was leaving anything whatsoever of the character of “negotiations” here entirely in my hands. He would, of course, tell me anything which came to him and naturally lend me support at any time it might seem opportune.
Repeated to London for Rublee.
- Not printed.↩