840.48 Refugees/1049: Telegram
The Chargé in Germany (Gilbert) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 6—2 p.m.]
697. 1. Woermann asked me to see him today and informed me in the following sense: a contact had been made with Pell in London whereby it had been arranged that Pell, for the purposes which he had previously outlined to me as reported in the second paragraph of my 664, November 28, 5 p.m., meet with an “unofficial German” in Brussels on December 10. I could not ascertain from him any identification of the German in question other than that he was “from Vienna”.
Woermann emphasized the “private nature” of the meeting and his feeling that publicity given to it in any form would militate against a successful outcome.
Woermann in all that he had to say stressed the “unofficial” nature of the arrangement. I felt nevertheless it to be tactically desirable to bring it as close to the official plane as might be possible. Woermann in response to my inquiries finally stated that the arrangement was with the full knowledge and consent of the German Government. I then recalled to him that the Ambassador had in October presented the American position in respect of this matter to the Foreign Office (Department’s 179, October 15, 3 p.m.) and I inquired whether the [Page 857] relationship of the German Government as he had just expressed it to the Brussels meeting could be regarded as an “answer” to the Ambassador’s démarche at the Foreign Office to which I had referred. He replied that I could construe it as an “answer”. I then said that although as I understood it there had been no “joint démarche” similar action had been taken in October by the British and French and I inquired whether he was therefore giving a like “answer” to the British and French Embassies. He replied that he was solely informing me of the Brussels arrangement.
2. In view of the background of our relations here on this score I have imparted the foregoing only to the British Chargé d’Affaires.
3. In my conversation with the British Chargé I asked him what had developed in respect of exploration which he had proposed to undertake through his financial counselor concerning Schacht’s possible relationship to this matter as reported in the first paragraph of my 674, November 30, 5 p.m. He told me that before approaching Schacht in any manner on this score he had thought it advisable to ascertain the views of London on such a step and that he had received instructions that the matter was not to be broached with Schacht in any manner whatsoever.
Incidentally the Chargé told me that although he was not officially informed he knew it to be a fact that Schacht is at present in London for the ostensible purpose as he understands it of conferring with the Governor of the Bank of England. He added he felt certain that Schacht’s being in London had nothing at all to do with the Jewish question and that although there might be attempts to associate his presence in London with that matter he personally felt that any Schacht angle to the picture could be dropped for the moment.
Repeated to London for Rublee.