File No. 763.72/10564
The Minister in Switzerland ( Stovall) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 30, 12.14 p.m.]
3802. German political. Kühlmann spoke before the Reichstag on June 24 with a dull, discouraged air, arousing little interest until his statement, “by military decisions alone, without diplomatic discussions, an absolute end of the war can hardly be expected,” awakened the anger of the Conservatives. The emotion was so great that the Chancellor was obliged to offer a conciliatory statement at beginning of the next session. Kühlmann then spoke again to explain his confidence in a military victory as the basis of the future peace [thus alienating his support by the Left]. The phrase which Kühlmann used will, however, persist, as will the anger of the Conservative press against him. His resignation is already reported as imminent.
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