740.0011 Mutual Guarantee (Locarno)/410: Telegram
The Ambassador in Germany (Dodd) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 11—1:20 p.m.]
71. The German official situation is again most noncommittal. The evidence of collaboration a few days ago with Mussolini is modified today by report that Mussolini is sending two army divisions again to the Brenner Pass zone. The shift of Conference from Paris to London is counted most favorable here. It is clear once more that London and Paris are again trying to manipulate the ticklish situation. Hitler and his advisers were willing to violate the Locarno pact because they knew of the differences and self-interests involved. It is the old story of European balancing of interests and powers, not the sacredness of treaties or League decisions. All powers here watch the United States attitudes closely. They are now convinced that no influence whatever will be applied until after the elections of next autumn. Consequently Mussolini’s thanks to Congress81 and Hitler’s fairly safe challenges of March 7.
If any change begins to appear here I shall try to inform the Department.
- See telegram No. 68, March 3, 6 p.m., from the Ambassador in Italy, vol. iii, p. 191.↩