740.0011 European War 1939/603: Telegram
The Chargé in Germany (Kirk) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 28—6:45 p.m.]
1471. My 1469, September 28, 6 p.m.91 In Soviet circles in Berlin the emphasis in connection with Ribbentrop’s visit to Moscow is being placed upon the settlement of problems relating to Polish territory although they do not exclude the possibility that other matters will be discussed. They say that there is a complete understanding between Moscow and Ankara and are inclined to speak with some assurance as to Soviet claims to Bessarabia which they intimate may fall to Russia as easily as did the Polish territory. Furthermore they point to Lithuania and especially to Estonia and in this connection the report of the sinking of a Russian vessel by an unknown submarine in the Baltic has given rise to grave concern among the military experts [Page 459] of those countries in Berlin as to the possibility that the Soviets will use as a pretext for the invasion of Estonia a claim that that country is forming a base for foreign submarines. Soviet representatives here also discuss the possibility of a military alliance with Germany and in general make no efforts to conceal their satisfaction in the developments of the past weeks as affecting their country.
In German official circles the report of a possible military alliance with Russia is also current but in general there is a certain reserve in reference to the immediate purposes of Ribbentrop’s trip to Moscow. Indications are multiplying of dissatisfaction in higher military circles here as well as in the party itself with the pro-Soviet policy of the regime and although this attitude is not clearly articulate and is in no way expressed by Government officials it has already given rise to the comment that Ribbentrop’s visit is not intended so much to mark a closer cooperation with the Soviets as to induce a certain restraint in the development of what appear to be increasing requirements on the part of that Government.
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