European officials said the White House finally toned down its support for Mr Wolfowitz in the face of united and unrelenting European opposition to his continuing in office.

Diplomats agree that ­Germany led the European opposition and a senior official close to Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday said that, despite repeated lobbying from the White House, Berlin would not change its stance. “It remains the best for the bank if Mr Wolfowitz stands aside,” the official said.