Page 98 - Was Hitler a Riddle?

The British Diplomats 85

tion.” the Führer assured his guest “in a most positive and emphatic way”
that Germany “would not initiate a military conflict” because a war would
destroy all his achievements and “would mean the desolation of europe.”
to further reassure King that he was a decent man and a democrat, Hitler
declared, “i am not like stalin. i cannot shoot my generals and Ministers
when they will not do my will. i am dependent for my power on the peo-
ple who are behind me. Without the people i am nothing.” 170 toward the
end of the interview, King strongly praised Chamberlain, who, he used to
fear, would be rigid on “certain policies.” But he could now assure Hitler
that the British prime minister, whom he had seen recently, had a solid
understanding of foreign affairs, and King predicted that relations between
Germany and Britain were bound to improve. “Hitler said he was pleased
to know this.” in the course of the conversation, King also made it clear to
Hitler that if any country within the British empire believed its freedom
was endangered, the entire empire would unite to defend freedom, a clear
warning that in the event of war Britain would not stand alone. 171
in early July 1939, by which time war in europe seemed inevitable, King
renewed contact with Hitler in an attempt to prevent an outbreak of hos-
tilities. He wrote a letter to the Führer in which he referred to their meeting
two years earlier, which, he believed, had “established a basis of confidence”
that might be “helpful” in this time of crisis. King also reminded Hitler
that he had expressed strong admiration for the Führer’s achievements and
especially for his determination to maintain peace. King now urged him to
act on that commitment. “You will, i know,” King almost pleaded, “accept
this letter in the spirit in which it is written—an expression of the faith i
have in the purpose you have at heart, and of the friendship with yourself
which you have been so kind as to permit me to share.” Hitler replied that
he remembered the meeting with the prime minister “with pleasure,” but
then he completely ignored the issue raised by King. However, as a gesture
of friendship—and clearly in an effort to pry Canada loose from Britain—
Hitler invited several Canadian students and army officers on a three-week
excursion to Germany, during which they would be introduced to various
circles of Germans and would travel to different parts of the country. the
purpose of the visit, Hitler said, would be to “convey to [the Canadians] an
impressive picture of Greater Germany’s newly-won strength and its will to
peaceable constructive work.” amazingly, King was moved by the invitation
and told the German ambassador to Canada “of the warm appreciation of
the contents of the letter.” King regarded Hitler’s response “as an evidence
of the confidence which i felt had been established between Hitler and my-