Page 95 - Was Hitler a Riddle?

82 The British Diplomats

tion raised eyebrows in london since Halifax lacked foreign policy experi-
ence. even his sympathetic biographer conceded that he was not qualified
“by knowledge or inclination” to serve as foreign secretary. He had never
shown much interest in european affairs and admitted that he had not read
Hitler’s Mein Kampf, and it soon became clear that he did not understand
rumbold’s warning about Nazi Germany’s expansionist ambitions. aware
of his limitations, he accepted the appointment as foreign secretary only
because the prime minister had offered it to him, and he thought it “his
duty to accept.” Once in that office, he was very slow to make up his mind
on issues, but when he had made a decision he did not change his mind
easily. On the other hand, he was a “man of high moral courage who did
not shirk unpleasant duties.” and he was deeply loyal to his friends and
superiors. after he changed his mind about Nazism and had grave doubts
about the wisdom of appeasement, he urged Chamberlain to reconstitute
the government and pursue new policies, but the prime minister refused.
Nevertheless, Halifax remained loyal “to his chief” and did not make his
reservations public. 166
in November 1937, three months before he replaced eden at the For-
eign Office, Halifax accepted an invitation from Göring to attend a hunting
expedition, and during his stay in Germany he paid a visit to Hitler. He
spent three hours with the Führer—the need for a translator slowed the
conversation—and when it was over the lord president found it difficult
to sum up the drift of the discussion because the meeting did not follow
“a very orderly course” and no subject was covered in depth. except for
occasional outbursts over russia, Hitler was “on the whole very quiet and
restrained.” Nevertheless, Halifax now understood Hitler’s phenomenal
success as a public speaker. “the play of emotion—sardonic humor, scorn,
something almost wistful—is very rapid.” at the same time, Hitler “struck
me as very sincere, and believing all he said.” Hitler insisted, as he did so
often in his pronouncements, that he wanted good relations with Britain,
and the only concession he wished for was a return of German colonies.
But this was not a matter of great concern to him, and he would not go to
war with Britain to secure them.
Halifax was pleased to have made contact with Hitler, and although his
overall assessment of the German leader was positive, he did point to basic
differences over values between himself and his host. He did not think that
they stemmed simply from differences of outlook “between a totalitarian
and a democratic state.” they were, rather, the consequence of divergent
historical experiences. Hitler had attained power “after a hard struggle