740.00119 European War 1939/78: Telegram
The Minister in Switzerland ( Harrison ) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:03 p.m.]
125. For the Secretary and Under Secretary. I have been informed that passing as a representative of the President in connection with present peace efforts W. R. Davis, oilman and promoter of barter sales of Mexican oil to Germany, recently obtained an interview with Marshal Goering. Their conversation is said to have related principally to the possibility of American mediation, guarantees and eventual participation of the United States in financial and economic cooperation. I am told that Goering and his entourage were deeply interested and readily accepted Davis’ bona fides. Davis is said to have arrived in the United States by Clipper last Monday.
According to my informant Ribbentrop’s88 influence with Hitler is still paramount. Although somewhat discredited by the unexpectedly high-handed action of the Soviets in the Baltic States Ribbentrop is supported by Hitler while Goering, old army circles, important commercial elements, and now of great importance Himmler and the police are opposed to Ribbentrop and want peace. Ribbentrop will, so my informant states, continue to sabotage any peace proposals. Should he have to submit them to Hitler he would urge against their acceptance. There is just one junior official in the Foreign Office who supports Ribbentrop’s policy. Weizsaecker89 has twice submitted his resignation which has twice been refused. If peace efforts are to be successful they must not be submitted through Ribbentrop. Assurances that peace might be possible would strengthen the hands of Goering and those who think as he does and so my informant believes would enable them to refute Ribbentrop’s argument that Great Britain and France desire only to crush Germany and do not want peace.
My informant fears that if the war goes on it can only result in the Bolshevization of Germany. He is convinced that Hitler will Bolshevize Germany rather than suffer defeat. While he does not believe that Hitler can be entirely eliminated at this time he envisages the possibility of making him a mere figurehead as “the leader” and turning over the actual control of the government to Goering as Chancellor supported by the conservative elements aforementioned and the police under Himmler.