701.6263/19
The Minister in Austria (Messersmith) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 24.]
Sir: I have the honor to inform the Department that the Austrian Cabinet on August 7 announced the agrément of the Government to the appointment of former Vice Chancellor von Papen as German Minister at Vienna.
I am informed on good authority that the Government has no illusions with regard to the mission of Herr von Papen. It feels that the declarations of Chancellor Hitler in his letter to Herr von Papen cannot be taken at their face value as they have not been accompanied by any concrete evidences of a desire to establish normal relations such as the dissolution of the Austrian Legion and the cessation of the Munich radio propaganda.
The Government delayed the issuing of the agrément, I am informed, as an indication of its attitude, but felt that it would be unwise, considering all the circumstances and the general difficult situation in Europe, to refuse it.
[Page 48]I have been informed by the Foreign Office that Herr von Papen will be received as the German Minister with courtesy, but that the Government is a unit in its determination that it cannot negotiate through him with Germany on any matters even remotely connected with Austrian independence or interference in her internal affairs. The Foreign Minister in a statement which he made to me and which I understand has been made to the diplomatic representatives of other countries here, has made it clear that this attitude of the Austrian Government is unalterable.
I gathered further the impression in well informed and in interested circles that the activities of Herr von Papen will be very carefully observed and that should he engage here in any activities which the Austrian Government would consider improper, it would not hesitate to demand his recall by the German Government.
According to the German newspapers of yesterday Herr von Papen plans to arrive in Vienna and assume his functions as German Minister here towards the end of next week.
The general impression here in well informed circles is that Herr von Papen does not come here with the necessary powers to enable him to bring about any appeasement of the tension which exists in the relations between the two Governments. There remains, however, the earnest hope that this pessimism is unfounded.
Respectfully yours,