740.5/12–2454: Telegram
The United States High Commissioner for Germany (Conant) to the Department of State 1
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1846. I saw Chancellor 10:45 this morning at his request. He was much upset by new Paris developments but agreed that nothing should be said until matter was finally settled. He had done what he could to have the German press take a quiet attitude and was making no comment. I believe through his own channels he will try to persuade MRP to sustain Mendes-France on vote of confidence Monday but he was by no means confident of what would happen.
Chancellor proposes to call a Cabinet meeting for Wednesday morning if Mendes-France should fall Monday evening. He wishes me to impress on Washington the seriousness of the situation which would result in Germany if the treaties are not rescued in Paris by vote of confidence on Monday. He believes unless prompt action were taken along line of the theory of the empty chair, public opinion in Germany would move rapidly into a completely neutralist attitude and perhaps shortly to one desiring negotiations with Russia on neutralist basis.
Above all, the Chancellor expressed the view that failure of this attempt to settle German-French relations would end possibility of good French-German relations for some time to come and would kill any idea of European integration.
If matters should go badly in Paris on Monday, I propose to see the Chancellor again on Tuesday and could deliver any message the Dept wishes to transmit to him at that time.
In view of stories in press about Chancellor’s health and his difficulties in the debate last Thursday, can report his health seems good although he plans vacation after the new year. He seems perfectly able to handle any crisis that may arise. Though his anxiety is great, his spirits are good.
- Repeated to Paris.↩