762.65/684: Telegram
The Chargé in Germany (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
[Received 8:29 p.m.]
804. The Italian Ambassador did not proceed to Rome with Ciano as stated in the press but returned to Berlin. Although I have asked to see him he has not yet given me an appointment and it is now said that he has left Berlin this evening.
A friend of the Ambassador who saw him however informs me that the optimism which Attolico has hitherto displayed has disappeared and that he is manifesting great anxiety. He is under the impression that Attolico believed that Hitler might be inclined to adopt a more moderate attitude and although the Ambassador refrained from giving definite information as to the course of the conversations at Salzburg and Berchtesgaden he indicated that moderation had not been manifested and that Hitler was enraged by the tone and contents of the uncompromising reply of the Polish Government in the exchange of notes a few days ago in regard to the German protest over certain developments relating to matters in the city of Danzig.
My colleagues here are apparently in ignorance of what actually transpired in the course of the Ciano conversations and the results of the Burckhardt conference at Berchtesgaden have not yet been discussed but the impression prevails that whatever efforts Ciano may have made to modify Hitler’s attitude have failed.
The report has even been repeated to the effect that although Ciano and Ribbentrop had agreed in writing upon certain bases of cooperation between Germany and Italy in case of eventualities with the oral stipulation by Ciano that the Danzig issue would not be precipitated, Hitler himself had rejected that stipulation and had declared that Danzig was Germany’s affair.
There is no indication here to minimize the gravity of the present situation. The extent of the military preparedness is generally acknowledged and certain indications have lately been detected that a process of mobilization which would enable immediate military action is being effected without the actual publication of orders usually attending mobilization. The intent of Hitler is still unknown and some authentic account of the result of the Ciano visit as well as that of Csaky28 who is reported to be again in Munich is awaited to throw some further light on this controlling factor. Certain of my colleagues however express the conviction that if the present momentum continues the Danzig issue may be precipitated within a brief delay [Page 219] unless Hitler can be prevailed upon by some direct approach unattended by publicity to postpone action or is presented with some compromise as to Danzig before an act occurs which he will seize upon as a final provocation.
- Count Stephen de Csaky, Hungarian Minister for Foreign Affairs.↩