762. 65/683: Telegram
The Chargé in Germany (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 15—12:45 p.m.]
793. The following oral statement has been submitted in secrecy to a member of this Embassy by a German closely associated with high military circles here: A conference between German military leaders and Hitler had been scheduled to take place at Berchtesgaden either today or tomorrow but following the conferences with Ciano was cancelled and in the place of this conference a meeting of generals was held at the War Ministry in Berlin this morning when a report of the Ciano conversations was submitted. According to this report Hitler had demanded of Ciano that in the event of a general conflict precipitated by the Danzig issue the Italians would immediately cooperate with the Germans by attacking France but Ciano had declared that in such an event Italy would not participate at once in the conflict. At the same meeting at the War Ministry the generals were notified that it was the wish of the Fuehrer that the present state of military preparedness in Germany be maintained for 3 months so that if or when Hitler should decide to make use of the armed forces they would be in readiness to carry out his orders.
The above-mentioned informant stated that judging from the state of preparation in the War Supply Department no offensive action on an extensive scale need be expected for a fortnight and that the most serious lack of war materials at present related to the supply of tin and coal. He added that it had been reported that Hitler was in a highly excitable state and that it was his understanding that the Tannenberg celebration scheduled to take place on August 27 would not assume the significance which has lately been ascribed to it. (See my despatch No. 1226 of July 31.)27
- Not printed.↩