Office of the Historian

740.0011 European War 1939/6682: Telegram

The Chargé in Germany (Morris) to the Secretary of State
Berlin, November 14, 1940—5 p.m.
[Received November 14—5:15 a.m.]

4710. With the Greek-Italian war in its third week and no break in Greek-German relations Greek circles in Berlin still express belief that Hitler is seeking a basis for mediation of the conflict or if no basis is found will as a lesson to Mussolini let the Italians carry on unaided for a time. They are however skeptical that any mediatory basis can be found which from the point of view of Italian prestige will be acceptable to Mussolini.

The belief of these circles that Germany is actually considering a mediatory action are based on intimations which are admittedly rather [Page 561] obscure and which do not proceed from the highest officials in the Foreign Office realm, such remarks as the expression of hope that Greek operations will not be conducted so fiercely as to inflict any great defeat on the Italians which would irrevocably commit the latter for prestige sake to continue the war. Greek circles continue to receive official intimations that Italy’s action against their country was taken without prior consultation with Germany. The impression created in Greek circles by these intimations is reinforced by the still friendly reception accorded them by German officials and by their recollections of previous statements and incidents interpreted as evidence that Hitler has a mystic objection to the use of violence against historic Greece plus doubts as to the political and military advisability of such action. They assert that it was Hitler’s personal opposition which prevented the Italian attack on Greece last August and go so far as to express their opinion that the invasion of their country marks the beginning of a definite rift in the Axis.

The belief in German mediation and refusal to lend assistance to Italian military operations in Greece is not shared by certain other observers in Berlin although the rumor is prevalent that as an object lesson Hitler will withhold military support for a time.

Morris