600.A15A4/1093: Telegram
The Acting Chairman of the American Delegation (Gibson) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 5—6:50 p.m.]
231. Many thanks for your 121, June 4, 2 p.m.27 The only change in the situation since sending our 220, May 28, 2 p.m., is the change of government in Germany.28
In the course of the conversations with members of the various delegations here, the general impression has been one of regret at the disappearance of the personality of Bruening from the picture, but a kind of belief that through German clumsiness in handling the situation they have gone a long way toward reuniting opinion as to the necessity of maintaining a rigid regime and attitude until it is seen what line Germany is going to take. While there has been some unthinking comment to the effect that these events have rendered impossible any hope of achievement in disarmament, the more intelligent view appears to be that on the contrary this should render achievement easier because of the drawing together of opinion in France, Great Britain and the United States; this will tend to promote agreement among them and thus lead to results. It is [Page 153] felt that in a sense the situation is simplified by the fact that the German Government and its need for face-saving need no longer be taken into account to the same extent as was the case when the other powers had an interest in keeping Bruening Government in power. If progress can be achieved among the other powers they can speak with one voice in telling Germany she must take what she can get as a first step toward equality.
Thus, while it is possible that the conversations which it is hoped may take place before Lausanne may have to be changed in character and be conducted in part without the German representative, nevertheless, we have not thus far seen any serious inclination to recommend that they be abandoned.