Information on Germany from the British Ambassador to Switzerland
Title
Information on Germany from the British Ambassador to Switzerland
Creator
Rumbold, Horace, Sir, 1869-1941
Identifier
WWP25286
Date
1918 October 17
Description
British information about Germany.
Source
Library of Congress, Woodrow Wilson Papers
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum
Subject
Wilson, Woodrow, 1856-1924
United States--Relations--Germany
United States--Relations--Great Britain
Peace negotiations
Contributor
Morgan Willer
Relation
WWP25285
Language
English
Provenance
Document scan was taken from Library of Congress microfilm reel of the Wilson Papers. WWPL volunteers transcribed the text.
Text
PARAPHRASE OF A TELEGRAM FROM THE BRITISH MINISTER AT BERNE TO THE FOREIGN OFFICE.
Dated October 17.
VERY SECRET
On October 16, on the eve of my leaving for home, I had a long discussion with the President.
The President started the conversation by offering his congratulations on the recent great Allied successes, and remarked with obvious satisfaction that things were going excellently for us. The Germans had been definitely defeated in the field and further aggressive efforts would be impossible for them to undertake. I may add that I know this to be the view of the Chief of the Swiss General Staff, being largely based on the reports made to him by a Swiss officer who about two weeks ago was with the Germans on the Chemin des Dames.
The President spoke of President Wilson’s answer to Germany and said that he felt pretty sure that Germany would give way if the abdication of the Emperor and the Crown Prince were eventually to be demanded by the Allies. At the present moment the Hohenzollerns were being generally criticized in Germany. The President added that the democratization of Germany was absolutely essential, with a general sweeping away of the whole caste of Ludendorfs, Junkers, etc. In this event Switzerland for many years to come would have no cause to be afraid of Germany, either from a military or political point of view. He feared, however, that Switzerland would be over-run by Germans after the war ended, as they would not find it possible to go to any of the countries of the Entente. The Germans were now regarded everywhere with such hatred that neutral countries would be their only outlet.
BRITISH EMBASSY
WASHINGTON.
October 22, 1918.
Dated October 17.
VERY SECRET
On October 16, on the eve of my leaving for home, I had a long discussion with the President.
The President started the conversation by offering his congratulations on the recent great Allied successes, and remarked with obvious satisfaction that things were going excellently for us. The Germans had been definitely defeated in the field and further aggressive efforts would be impossible for them to undertake. I may add that I know this to be the view of the Chief of the Swiss General Staff, being largely based on the reports made to him by a Swiss officer who about two weeks ago was with the Germans on the Chemin des Dames.
The President spoke of President Wilson’s answer to Germany and said that he felt pretty sure that Germany would give way if the abdication of the Emperor and the Crown Prince were eventually to be demanded by the Allies. At the present moment the Hohenzollerns were being generally criticized in Germany. The President added that the democratization of Germany was absolutely essential, with a general sweeping away of the whole caste of Ludendorfs, Junkers, etc. In this event Switzerland for many years to come would have no cause to be afraid of Germany, either from a military or political point of view. He feared, however, that Switzerland would be over-run by Germans after the war ended, as they would not find it possible to go to any of the countries of the Entente. The Germans were now regarded everywhere with such hatred that neutral countries would be their only outlet.
BRITISH EMBASSY
WASHINGTON.
October 22, 1918.
Original Format
Letter
To
Barclay, Colville, 1869-1929
Files
Collection
Citation
Rumbold, Horace, Sir, 1869-1941, “Information on Germany from the British Ambassador to Switzerland,” 1918 October 17, WWP25286, World War I Letters, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.