-3-                             
 
 
war really breaks out.
 
 
But in leaving out this last consideration I can only say
that I firmly believe that Hitler has made up his mind definitely
to get hold of Danzig and the Corridor before the winter. The
"Day" is now fixed for 15th June. On the 1st June a large number
of reserves will be called to the Colours and on 15th another
batch. The ammunition trains are running day and night to the
Eastern border, railway lines are mostly reserved for these
purposes so that the troops are mostly moveing on foot to the
Eastern frontier. One would hardly fall short in estimating
that there are already some million people concentrated on the
Eastern border.
 
 
In spite of the fact that Hitler is trying to speed up all
preparations the army is endeavouring to persuade him that their
preparations will not be ready before the end of July. How far
they will be successful in this their policy remains to be seen.
There is no doubt that while the Army after the march into Prague
was nearly unanimously convinced of the infallibility of Hitler's 
political and military foresight, it is much less confident of a 
success now. At the moment defeatism is very strong again in the
Army. That defeatism was even more outspoken until a fortnight
ago on account of the impressions of the German General Staff
that Mussolini would not stand by the Axis longer than six months.
Of course as regards Italy there will be now more confidence, 
although it might be fair to assume that a new treaty between
Italy and Germany will also mean a brake on Hitler's moves. How
 
 
effective