741.65/455: Telegram
The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 4—6:10 p.m.]
98. Mr. Hugh Wilson3 and I met with Mr. Eden4 and Sir Alexander Cadogan5 at lunch today. The conversation naturally turned upon matters with which the Secretary of State is preoccupied. He said that he has no doubt of the genuineness of the Italian desire to effect a rapprochement with this country. He frankly admitted the difficulty in the way of an approach which is offered by the question of de jure recognition of the Italian empire in Abyssinia.6 The British, however, although recognizing this reality, are not prepared, aside from legal difficulties attending the recognition of Abyssinia, to take such a step without a substantial and real contribution from Mussolini himself. There are from the British point of view also certain preliminary necessities which must be met; they must have from Italy a definite understanding regarding the peace and security of the Mediterranean in connection with which Mr. Eden mentioned the Italian garrisons in Libya and the security of Egypt. The Italians must cease their anti-British propaganda in the Moslem world. Mr. Eden said that he felt also that from the viewpoint of general European settlement it is essential to secure from Mussolini a satisfactory understanding with regard to Spain. The problem of a practical approach to this question is now causing him great concern. The impression he gave was that in the British view there can be no general solution of Mediterranean problems which would exclude Spain from its scope and that therefore a definite understanding with regard to Italy’s intentions in that country should [be?] a necessary preliminary to an Anglo-Italian rapprochement.
Respecting the Rome–Berlin Axis, the Foreign Secretary remarked that although Mussolini was by far a greater immediate difficulty than Hitler there was no question that, as far as a general European settlement was concerned, Germany presented the real problem. There is no intention on the part of the British not to give reasonable consideration to German demands but again he is not disposed to take the promises of dictators at their face value and feels that Germany must herself make positive contributions accompanied by guarantees. What this contribution should be, he sees as including an agreement for reduction of armaments, in which of course all would participate, [Page 136] and effective guarantees from Hitler that the peace of Central Europe would not be disturbed. Mr. Eden feels there is good ground for belief in the practical possibility of peaceful settlement of German-Czechoslovak difficulties and that Dr. Beneš8 will contribute his part. The colonial demands of Germany are receiving serious study in the Foreign Office (see my No. 59 of January 25, 6 p.m.9) and in this connection Mr. Eden said to Mr. Hugh Wilson that he believed it would be helpful if he, when he got to Berlin, could convey as his own opinion that the British were sincere in their approach to this problem and were not “stalling” which Mr. Eden said they were in fact not doing. Mr. Eden gave the impression throughout his conversation that he regarded the immediate problem of the betterment of Anglo-Italian and Anglo-German relations as but the initial step in the larger issue of European appeasement and settlement and further that in his view, in securing a general settlement, it was essential that the authoritarian governments must make their contribution, and that he regards the promises of those governments without effective guarantees as of little value.
He mentioned the trade agreement negotiations between the United States and Great Britain10 and said that he regarded them as of vital importance; that this evidence of American interest in the problems of Europe and of the American desire to ameliorate world conditions and to bring about a general appeasement was having a favorable effect throughout Europe; and further that the mere fact that the United States was manifesting an energetic interest in world problems was having a visible and salutary effect.
- Appointed Ambassador to Germany, January 17, 1938.↩
- British Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.↩
- British Permanent Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.↩
- See vol. ii, pp. 723 ff.↩
- Eduard Beneš, President of Czechoslovakia.↩
- Not printed.↩
- See vol. ii, pp. 1 ff.↩