Messersmith, G.S., Vienna. To Raymond H. Geist, Berlin.

Wonders if [James Klahr] Huddle has arrived in Berlin; is sure Geist will be great help to him; Major [Lowell M.] Riley to replace [Martin C.] Shallenberger as Military Attach?? at U.S. Legation in Vienna; recommends book, "We or They," by Hamilton Fish Armstrong; Chancellor had planned to marry a Countess Fugger but decided it was politically unwise and called off marriage; [Konstantin von] Neurath coming to Vienna Feb. 22 and 23, but thinks it means no more than a return of [Guido] Schmidt's visit to Berlin; German-Italian cooperation continues but not so strong; Italians favor ousting pro-Nazi [Odo] Neust??dter-St??rmer from cabinet and supported Austria in not giving in to German demands during recent trade negotiations; Italians building up their fences throughout Southeastern Europe to counteract German influence; legitimist movement coming to fore again; Chancellor sees no one who could succeed him safely and thinks restoration the solution; Austrian public would accept restoration without protest; Chancellor has made clear restoration would affect Austria only, that it would be a monarchy adapted to modern times, and that there would be no revisionist claims; less objection to restoration in neighboring countries than formerly, except in Germany; Hitler's Jan. 30 speech indicates Germany holds to every item of her program; no time for change of policy by France, England, or U.S.; asks if someone in Berlin is reporting to Department on establishment of Auslandsdeutsche Bureau in Foreign Office; it means direct control by German Government of Nazi cells in every country of the world; since Hitler did not "come across" in his Jan. 30 speech, thinks there will be no more wavering in British policy; calls attention to editorial by [Oswald] Villard on "The Sale of Ambassadorships"; one hears nothing concerning probable changes in U.S. representation abroad; hopes Geist has recovered from accident