Hitler orders Ribbentrop to telegraph Ambassador von der Schulenberg in Moscow, ordering him to secure “a speedy clarification of German-Russian relations.” Ribbentrop says that he is prepared to personally fly to Moscow and present Hitler’s views to Stalin “because only through such a direct discussion can a change be brought about, and it should not be impossible therefore to lay the foundation for a final settlement of German-Russian relations.”
New York U.S. Congressman Hamilton Fish, president of the U.S. delegation to the Interparliamentary Union Congress conference in Oslo, Norway, meets with Ribbentrop. Fish is a vocal isolationist and staunch opponent of Roosevelt. The congressman advocates better relations with Germany and hopes to solve the Danzig question during the August 15-19 conference in Norway. Ribbentrop tells Fish that Germany has lost its patience and unless Danzig is restored to Germany war will break out.
There continues to be an air of unreality about the growing crisis. The New York Times reports:
In the absence of any definite news concerning the outcome of the Salzburg conference between Count Ciano and Joachim von Ribbentrop, the Italian and German Foreign Ministers, over the weekend, many reports are being circulated. Among these is one that the Vatican has been or will be approached by both the German and the Italian Governments and the suggestion will be made that Pope Pius call a four-power conference to deal first with the Danzig question and then, if that succeeds, with other major issues between the Axis and the democratic powers. It is said that for very obvious reasons confirmation of this report will be withheld until the Vatican decides whether or not to assume the role of inviting authority. It is known that the Pope has already once seriously considered the possibility of such a conference but abandoned it in view of opposition in Paris and London following Chancellor Adolf Hitler’s action in tearing up the Munich agreement when he entered Prague last March 15.
More recently Premier Benito Mussolini has been credited here with having urged a new attempt. It is believed not impossible that at Berchtesgaden, where he talked with Herr Hitler last weekend, Count Ciano obtained the latter’s consent to such a “peace offensive,” as it is called, through the intermediary of the Pope, if that could be obtained.
There seems in the fragmentary accounts of the Salzburg decisions, to be some measure of confirmation of the likelihood that this method of solution is being sought. It would provide a means of escape for Signor Mussolini from immediate decision. Moreover, if such a conference is called and succeeds, he will have an almost equal share with the Pope in its success, whereas, if it is not called or if it fails, the responsibility in the eyes of the Italian and other peoples could be laid, with the propaganda services of fascism working as they do, more easily on France and Great Britain.
Herr Hitler also may consider that he stands to win both ways. The report runs tonight that the German and Italian Ministers to the Vatican will present or have presented identical notes to the Vatican, asking that, in the interests of peace, a four power conference be called to seek a solution of the Danzig issue. Poland would not be invited to take part, but if an acceptable solution should be reached, the British Government would be invited to submit it to Warsaw.
[All well and good… but the Germans have already declared their position to Ciano: “We Want War.”]
Chamberlain and Halifax receive details of Ciano’s meetings with Hitler and Ribbentrop. They consider the idea of sending a German-speaking Briton to negotiate directly with Hitler.
Italy mobilizes the “San Marco” naval infantry battalion.
German police ban Helen Keller’s book; no reason is given.
Police arrest four IRA leaders in Dublin. Four Dublin men were arrested today in police raids and searches of premises frequented by Irish Republicans. The raids followed a meeting here yesterday addressed by men recently deported from England. England deports five more.
The Reich reports on Poles, saying 197 soldiers have deserted to the Reich, mostly out of fear.
Slovakia claims Polish territory. Slovakia’s revisionist claims, which for two months have been concentrated on a frontier altercation with Hungary, were unexpectedly switched to the Polish frontier when Alexander Mach, propaganda chief, speaking at a political meeting on Sunday, demanded that Poland return the Javorina district seized from Slovakia by force last Autumn.
The Minister of Commerce, Geza Medricky, announced that though the Jews would not immediately be dispossessed of their lands, on their death their properties would revert to the Commonwealth.
Police guarded Bratislava’s Ghetto today after an outbreak of anti-Semitic violence, and the German minority newspaper Grenzbote charged Slovak Jews with “unbelievable provocation.” Two synagogues were stormed by a mob early Saturday morning and Jews were beaten on the streets. Another mob smashed into a Jewish club last night.
The segregation of the Jews in Prague’s public life was ordered today by the city’s Police President. From eleven of the most popular cafes and restaurants. used considerably by the German armed forces, all Jews were barred. In all other public. houses where it is technically possible, rooms are to be set apart for the use of Jews and where it is not.. possible, notices are to be displayed barring the Jews from entering. Shops and public houses belonging to Jews, or used principally by them, must show the notice: “Jewish Establishment.” Public baths will confine Jews to separate sections and swimming pools will exclude them altogether.
The Czech-Aryan Cultural Society, which continues to shower pert demands for anti-Jewish measures on the public authorities, today demanded that a special cinema be reserved for Jews. The society also presented an ultimatum to the Czech Red Cross Society demanding the expulsion of all Jewish members.
Spaniards arrest a Briton, saying his wife did not give a proper salute.
Gold and silver treasure buried 1,300 years ago with the body of a Saxon king in his Viking ship, which had been hauled up out of the River Deben in Suffolk and covered with a mound of 1,000 tons of earth, was declared today to be the property of the woman on whose estate the discovery was made.
The Jean-Antoine Watteau painting L’Indifferent, stolen from the Louvre on June 12, was reported to have been returned to authorities. The thief, who was himself an artist, explained that he was upset to see that the painting had been badly retouched so he decided to steal it and do some repairs.
Senator Vandenberg of Michigan declared today that the United States under an administration “sympathetic to the return” of free enterprise would pull itself “out of this economic depression in six months.”
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced that he would proclaim Thanksgiving to be moved up one week from the last Thursday of November (the 30th) to the next-to-last Thursday (the 23rd) this year. The president explained that stores had requested the change to give them extra time to sell merchandise between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Additionally, workers had complained of the long stretch of time between Labor Day and Thanksgiving. Retailers seem to like the move. The little town of Plymouth, Massachusetts, not so much.
President Roosevelt displayed mild interest today in the movement among Young Democratic clubs to draft him for a third term, but refused to discuss the idea advanced by Mayor Edward J. Kelly of Chicago that it was “Roosevelt of ruin” as far as the Democratic Party was concerned.
The Republican party has a program of “twelve major objectives,” Representative Martin of Massachusetts, House minority leader, asserted tonight in a national broadcast. He said that in the last session of Congress an era of rash and reckless experimentation was “definitely ended.”
Charges that the National Association of Manufacturers and affiliated employer associations “organized the strategy for a national program of employer opposition to labor unions and to governmental action to improve conditions of labor” were made today by the Senate Civil Liberties Committee in a recess report to the full Senate.
O. John Rogge, assistant Attorney General in charge of widespread Federal investigations in Louisiana, said today that he had received two threatening letters containing two 38-caliber revolver shells and a warning of death.
A contribution which automobile executives and leaders in the safety movement believe will play a major role in cutting down the night accident rate on the highways was shown today at the Nela Park laboratories of the General Electric Company. It is the “sealed beam” headlight, whihc increases effective illumination while decreasing glare.
With the arrest of six suspects today, investigation proceeded into the sabotage wrecking in Humboldt Canyon, forty miles from Elko, on Saturday night, of the streamlined railroad train City of San Francisco. Two are held for more intense questioning, but the investigation will go nowhere.
The possibility that poison caused the death of a retired police officer exactly a week after he had volunteered charges that a Brooklyn physician convicted in an abortion case was “framed” was under investigation yesterday by Special Assistant Attorney General John Harlan Amen.
Actress Janet Gaynor and costume designer Adrian were married in Yuma, Arizona.
In the first night game at Comiskey Park, 30,000 see the Chicago White Sox beat the St. Louis Browns, 5–2. Johnny Rigney is the winner allowing 3 hits in taking his 7th victory in a row.
Schoolboy Rowe rescued the Detroit Tigers from their first losing streak in a month by beating the Cleveland Indians today, 10–3, in the second game of a doubleheader. Cleveland won the opener, 8–4, in ten innings. The first game stretched Detroit’s streak of defeats to three in a row. Detroit had taken two successive batterings from the Browns. However, the Schoolboy, industriously trying to come back to his old greatness, mastered Oscar Vitt’s Tribe in the nightcap. It was his sixth victory against nine defeats.
Trailing the Pittsburgh Pirates 7–0 in the 5th, the Cincinnati Reds rally for a 9–8 win, scoring 4 runs in the 9th. Lew Riggs pinch-singled the winning run across with the bases full and two out. Lew Riggs singles home the winner with the bases full after Dick West had driven in 2 runs with his first Major League hit.
Left-handed Larry French halted — at least temporarily — the St. Louis Cardinals’ march toward the league-leading Reds today, holding them to four hits as the Chicago Cubs won the first contest of a two-game series, 4–0. Stan Hack’s two-bagger in the fourth inning drove in two runs and Bill Nicholson’s home run in the fifth accounted for another. The first run, in the third, came on Joe Medwick’s error. The St. Louis left fielder let Billy Herman’s single roll through and Hack, who had gone from first to third on the blow, reached home.
A continuance of the dispute caused by Mexico’s expropriation of American oil properties seventeen months ago will constitute a material barrier to the maintenance of close and friendly relations between the United States and Mexico, Summer Welles, Acting Secretary of State, asserted today. He emphasized this in a statement in which the Mexican Government and the American oil companies were strongly urged to accept as a basis for further discussions a complicated plan for settlement, which he revealed had been advanced by the State Department, and the warning was conveyed that important interests of the United States Government were involved. It was this plan that was rejected. by the oil companies last week. Under this plan Mexico and the American concerns would operate the expropriated properties jointly with three “neutrals” having the final voice in control.
The discontinuance of the present discussions cannot relieve the Mexican Government of its obligation. to make “prompt, adequate and effective compensation” for the petroleum properties they have taken, Mr. Welles asserted in a press conference. At the same time he warned the American companies. that this government expects their officials to give “attentive consideration” to all proposals advanced, since “in the rapid, fair and equitable solution of this controversy, the interests of their government are directly concerned.”
Continuation of the oil conflict. not only endangers good political relations between Mexico and the United States, but is capable of dislocating still further “beneficial commercial relations” between the two countries, the Acting Secretary of State said. Mexican oil barter deals with Germany have caused concern in Washington for some time. Mr. Welles issued his statement after a ten-minute conference this morning with Dr. Francisco Castillo Najera, Mexican Ambassador, and an hour’s talk with Donald Richberg, attorney for the oil interests. The Ambassador said, after his conversation with Mr. Welles, that “the way is still open for solution” of the controversy and that “the companies have many Mexican proposals to choose from.” Mr. Richberg refused to comment but conceded that “various proposals had been advanced by both sides.”
Although many persons saw the crash of a Pan American “Baby Clipper” in the harbor here yesterday, which killed fourteen persons, versions of the accident are so conflicting that no one clear theory of its cause has yet been formed.
The anti-British campaign in China produced a new outbreak of violence in Chefoo, Shantung Province port, where official advices today said that demonstrators attacked the British Consulate and stoned offices and residences of Britons.
The Shanghai settlement bars more refugees. The 500 already on their way from Europe are unaffected by the order. Shanghai has been added to the long list of seaports where European Jewish refugees will not be allowed to debark. This decision was rendered both by the International Settlement and the French Concession Councils, although acting independently. All consuls and shipping companies and also the Jewish refugee organizations have been notified that no further landings will be allowed.
Dow Jones Industrial Average: 140.18 (+1.76).
Born:
Mike Woulfe, NFL linebacker (Philadelphia Eagles), in Chicago, Illinois (d. 1997).
Bill Diamond, AFL guard (Kansas City Chiefs), in Miami, Florida.
Naval Construction:
The Sjøforsvaret (Royal Norwegian Navy) Vosper 60 feet-type class motor torpedo boat HNoMS No. 6 is laid down by Vosper (Portsmouth, England, U.K.).
The U.S. Navy Tangier-class seaplane tender USS Pocomoke (AV-9) is laid down by the Moore Dry Dock Co. (Oakland, California, U.S.A.).
The Kriegsmarine (German Navy) tanker Altmark is commissioned. Her first commanding officer is Captain Heinrich Dau.
Altmark (Captain Heinrich Dau) was assigned to support Admiral Graf Spee during her raid in the South Atlantic between September and December 1939. Seamen rescued from the ships sunk by Admiral Graf Spee were transferred to Altmark. After Admiral Graf Spee was heavily damaged by British cruisers in Battle of the River Plate and subsequently scuttled by her crew, in the Río de la Plata in December 1939, Altmark attempted to return to Germany, steaming around the north of Great Britain and then within the Norwegian littoral. On 14 February 1940 Altmark, proceeding south within Norwegian territorial waters, was discovered by three British Lockheed Hudson Mk.II aircraft from RAF Thornaby and pursued by several British destroyers led by HMS Cossack. Late on 16 February 1940 in Jøssingfjord she was fired upon while the Norwegian Navy stood by and took no action save for raising a protest flag. The German tanker then received a boarding party from HMS Cossack. During an attempted escape across the ice, seven of the Altmark crew were shot down. During the skirmish Altmark was run onto the rocks. It had been the British intention to tow the ship back to a Scottish port, but the damage to the tanker’s stern frustrated this idea.
An attack by one belligerent upon its enemy in neutral waters is a breach of neutrality, in this case a breach of Norwegian neutrality by Britain. Because Hitler feared Norway would be insufficiently resolute to protect the German iron-ore traffic that passed legitimately along the Norwegian littoral and earlier had decided on 14 December 1939 on the invasion of Norway after discussions with Admiral Erich Raeder and Vidkun Quisling, ordered intensified planning on 19 February 1940 for attacks on Norway and Denmark, which eventually took place on 9 April 1940 under the code name Operation Weserübung.
The British justification for the attack on the Altmark was set out in a Note to the Norwegian Government from Foreign Secretary Lord Halifax dated 10 March 1940. The problem the British Government faced was the wording of The Hague Convention XIII of 1907 to which it was a signatory. Article 10 provides that: “The neutrality of a Power is not affected by the mere passage through its territorial waters of warships or prizes belonging to belligerents.”
This meant that the Altmark was within its rights to sail through Norwegian waters with prisoners aboard providing that it did not come to a protracted stop longer than 24 hours. In the diplomatic letter, the British government confirmed that it was not contrary to the law of neutrality to sail a prison ship through neutral waters, and Britain often did this herself. In fact the British complaint had nothing to do with the prisoners. Altmark was a fleet tanker assimilated to a warship and was proceeding to Germany from the Atlantic by the north-about route. Instead of sailing down the North Sea as he would do in peacetime, the master of the Altmark had elected to sail the entire leg of the voyage southwards within Norwegian territorial waters in order to attract immunity from attack there under international law. There was no other reason for him to want to voyage through waters so dangerous to navigation. With no valid breach of international law, the British excused their violation of international law by contriving that the Altmark’s course abused international law even without a violation, and since the Norwegians had declined to stop a voyage that was not in violation of international convention the British Admiralty decided it was justified in taking action contrary to law, essentially announcing that it had the right to determine what course an enemy ship must travel to be entitled to the protections of international law.
The ship, renamed Uckermark on 6 August 1940, then resumed the role for which she had been built. During Operation Berlin, which involved the battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau between January and March 1941, Uckermark, under Captain Zatorski, was a supply ship and scout attached to the squadron. As the result of her reports the battleships were directed to various merchant vessels, which were then sunk.
On 9 September 1942 she left France for Japan with a cargo of vegetable oil and fuel, supplying the auxiliary cruiser Michel on the way, arriving at Yokohama on 24 November 1942. Uckermark was then intended as the replenishment ship for the German raider Thor, which was raiding merchant shipping in the Indian Ocean and western Pacific Ocean areas.
On 30 November 1942, Uckermark was anchored at Yokohama, Japan, next to Thor and the captured Australian passenger liner SS Nankin, carrying a load of explosives, which Thor had captured in March five days out from Fremantle, Australia, en route to Colombo, Ceylon. While the crew was at lunch, Uckermark suffered an explosion and fire which spread to Nankin, resulting in a larger explosion that sunk the Uckermark, Thor, and Nankin and destroyed a portion of the docks. The cause of the fire and explosions was thought to be a spark from tools used by a repair gang working near the cargo tanks igniting residual gasoline. The Uckermark had delivered 5,000 tons of gasoline to Yokohama. It is unknown if the ship had an inerting system for its cargo tanks installed, but, as tanker vessels with inerting systems were uncommon at the time the ship was built, it is likely that combined with wartime stresses the lack of (or inoperability of) an inerting system contributed significantly to the power of the initial explosion. A comparable incident was the explosion of the MS Bidwell at Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, in 1932. Fifty-three crewmen from Uckermark died in the explosion. The severely damaged ship was beyond repair and was scrapped.
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