Office of the Historian

500.A15A4 General Committee/621: Telegram

The Chairman of the American Delegation (Davis) to the Secretary of State

Geneva, October 9, 1933—1 p.m.
[Received October 9—9:40 a.m.]

730. Your 372, October 8, 1 p.m. The outline of your proposed oral statement to Luther should prove most helpful and will reinforce in a very timely way statements I made last night to Nadolny along very similar lines. I have the following suggestions as to minor modifications and one or two additional points you might consider.

2.
Your point 1. I suggest making reference to belligerent speeches of present German officials (for example, speech of Von Papen glorifying war53) given wide publicity throughout Germany even under a system which completely controls the press. I also suggest you refer to the fact that France and other neighbors of Germany despite apprehension caused by Germany’s provocative attitude are now for the first time prepared to accept genuine and most substantial measures of disarmament.
3.
Your point 2. I suggest changing after “gradual stages” somewhat as follows: “but this should be sought through the reduction downward of the armaments of the heavily armed powers and not through rearmament by any such power.”
4.
Next sentence. Delete “in any form”.
5.
In suggesting these changes I have in mind that the transformation of the Reichswehr Germany will receive additional numbers of weapons now permitted her and also before the end of the treaty at least some of the defensive weapons which the other powers do not agree eventually to eliminate. Even the French are willing to concede this in principle the present difference being that Germany wishes to have such weapons immediately.
6.
You might also add under your point 2 that Germany at an early stage will receive a measure of satisfaction as the Reichswehr and other European armies were standardized.
7.
Your point 3. I question the desirability of stressing at least at this stage the rights accorded to us under our treaty with Germany as regards part V of the Treaty of Versailles.
Davis
  1. Delivered at Muenster, May 13, before a combined Nazi and Stahlhelm audience.↩