740.0011 European War 1939/2855: Telegram
The Chargé in Germany (Heath) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 21—7:54 a.m.]
1974. It is customary in certain Ministries here to have occasional meetings of higher officials where addresses on party doctrine and internal and external political aims of the Reich are delivered. Recently at such a meeting officials were informed by a higher official in the same Ministry that the war aims of the Reich as regards France contemplated that the Channel ports as far as Cherbourg were to be awarded to Belgium which was to have protectorate status under the Reich. German families would be settled in key positions of areas under German influence. See my 1544, May 28, noon.12 From the Mediterranean to the southern boundary of Belgium there was to be organized a neutral territory, no clear explanation being furnished as to whether it was to have independent political status or not. It was indicated that the destruction of Great Britain was not contemplated but that instead it was anticipated that country would become a subordinate ally to Germany in a campaign against the Soviet Republic which would be staged in the spring of 1941.
The above statements very possibly had no relation to the actual terms proposed and which may shortly be indicated officially or to the real external aims of Hitler but I believe that they are of interest as indicating the ideas discussed among responsible party officials.
- Not printed.↩