862.00/2645a
The Chief of the Division of Western European
Affairs (Boal)
to the Ambassador in Germany (Sackett)
Washington, December 10, 1931.
Dear Mr. Ambassador: I am enclosing for
your information a copy of a memorandum which sets up a few
observations with regard to the present course of events in Germany.
These observations while based for the most part on newspaper
reports seem to us in the Department to be fairly accurate. We have
not had any reports from the Embassy which have covered this
question in just the same way as this memorandum approaches it. For
our own information here in the Department, I would appreciate it if
you could give me your views with regard to this memorandum with any
amplification or added information which you might deem
pertinent.
Sincerely yours,
[Enclosure]
Memorandum Prepared in the Department of
State
[Washington,] December 8,
1931.
The following are certain brief observations regarding events in
Germany:
- (1)
- Hitler’s
position, both on the basis of votes cast and
psychologically, is unquestionably obtaining increased
strength and there is a general expectation that his
groups will attain power soon, either as part of the
present Government or in charge of the Government.
Certain characteristics of the Hitler program are
becoming increasingly evident:
- (a)
- The extent to which his program and ideas seem
to resemble those of Fascist Italy. As a matter of
fact, the Bruening decrees are already creating
a relationship between government and industry
that approaches the Italian scheme and the step
over to the Hitler program would not be very
great. The chief difference might turn out to be
that the trade unions, instead of retaining their
international socialist
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character, would take on a
national Fascist complexion and be under the
control of the central Government.
- (b)
- Hitler
seems to be making a very strong play for the
favor of international private banking groups by
promising complete respect for their debts and a
curb upon future German borrowings. This is
calculated in the first place to reassure them,
and in the second place to rally them against
France.
- (c)
- For the rest, his patriotic utterances in
general resemble those of Mussolini a very few
years ago—national war cries without any defined
objective.
- (2)
- The reaction of the French and the French Government
to all this is not yet clear.
