-4- He further explained to me that they did not even ask who would be the emissary from England as they have full confidence in England, but indicated that they would prefer energetic men like Beaverbrook. They hate us more than the British, because we are spoiling their success; whereas they rather admire the British. He indicated that they would likely send Falkenhansen, Haltner, Stupnagel, and others of that type. They distrust Keitel; they believe that Brauchitsch will come over at the last. As a civilian member, they would probably send Von Hassel, son-in-law of old Tirpitz, and who, as a former ambassador to Rome, claims to be a friend of Phillips. It was further explained to me that: l) Everything against Hitler and the regime must originate from Germany. The German people must not get the idea that the disposition of Hitler has been organized from outside, as then they would line up to protect him. 2) If we consider their plan at all, we must do so very promptly, before hatred of the USA gets worse in Germany. 3) But as soon as it becomes plain to the German people that the change means peace, they will let Hitler go, as they put peace first in their affections and Hitler second. 4) The German army fears that the President or Churchill would kill any such plan, as they have been convinced by their own propaganda to the effect that the President and Churchill as individuals have a special and violent animosity against Germany while all the rest of the USA and Great Britain understand them. I of course explained that this was absurd and that the USA and the UK were definitely behind their two chiefs, but mere explainations do not surmount months of skillful propaganda. This does not of course mean that they would not be glad to deal with Churchill and the President, but they think that the President and Churchill would, for reasons of blind hatred, refuse even to consider reasonable solutions. I showed them the eight points which they had not seen. (I got them from the Embass~y in Berlin.) They read them over carefully and said they were satisfactory, except the last point about disarmament. They said there should be an economic union of Europe, but that politically they would be prepared to evacuate all territories, except only Austria. Germany and Austria should remain intact. They suggested the Kaiser's gandson as the new sovreign, because in the legitimate line. |