Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1941, The Far East, Volume IV

862.00/3990: Telegram

The Minister in Rumania (Gunther) to the Secretary of State

[Extracts]

Bucharest, February 26, 1941—5 p.m.
[Received February 27―11:59 a.m.]

191. The following is from a highly reliable contact who in giving me this interesting information has expressed the hope that it will reach the competent authorities in London:

1. Differences have arisen between Goering²⁰ and Ribbentrop²¹ due to the fact that the former does not agree with the latter’s Russian policy. Goering, it would appear, is of the opinion that more pressure should be exercised on Russia inasmuch as Germany is getting no return for the enormous concessions granted that country. Ribbentrop is now working on a nonaggression agreement between Russia and Japan and at the same time is trying to persuade the former country to stop deliveries to Chiang Kai Shek (both Germany and Japan it seems are bitterly disappointed that Chiang Kai Shek still refuses to enter into peace negotiations with the latter notwithstanding what they consider an attractive offer already made him); he is consequently against pressing Russia at the moment and in this has Hitler’s²² backing.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3. Germany has given Japan a free hand in the Dutch East Indies on the understanding that later on German economic concerns will secure concessions there.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Gunther

20. Reich Marshal Hermann Wilhelm Goring, successor-designate to the German Chief of State, chairman of the German War Cabinet, etc.
21. Joachim von Ribbentrop, German Minister for Foreign Affairs.
22. Adolf Hitler, German Chief of State, Führer and Chancellor.