Office of the Historian

862.404/173: Telegram

The Ambassador in Germany (Dodd) to the Secretary of State

Berlin, January 30, 1936—11 a.m.
[Received January 30—8:04 a.m.]

30. Embassy’s despatch No. 2622, January 23. Strong denunciation of Nazi paganism contained in Catholic pastoral letter of last Sunday appears to have been a parting volley on the retreat made in response to demands for action from the lower clergy and the faithful. In the meantime discussions have been resumed with the Government concerning application of Concordat and higher policy understood to be concerned with the task of consolidating by this method Church’s compromised position and preserving it against further State aggression.

[Page 163]

With respect to the Protestants the militant opposition hopes to obtain a reorganization of central Confessional administration on more combative lines. Forthcoming synod understood to be timed with winter Olympic games to embarrass possible police action.

Copy to Rome.

Dodd