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interview last January had been in an atmosphere of 
respect, although not one of cordiality. Hitler was not 
ungrateful for what he had accomplished but could not 
forgive his refusal to become a real member of the Party.  
In previous years, he said, Hitler had personally besought 
him on several occasions to identify himself with the Party.  
He could understand that attitude because Hitler depended 
on the Party and could not remain in power without it. 
He, however, had certain principles, and the fact was 
that most of the Party leaders were not very honest men 
or, if they were, they were fanatics. This was the 
case of Hess, who was unquestionably honest but entirely
fanatic and limited in outlook. He remarked that the 
only Party personage who would oppose his return to the 
Government in time of emergency and was personally 
inimical to him was Ribbentrop. That was for reasons 
of difference of policy and personal jealousy.  
Ribbentrop's policy and influence had certainly contributed 
to the tragic developments of these last weeks.     
     The immediate starting point of the present war 
was Germany's mistake in invading Czechoslovakia last 
spring. That was where his policy had always been at 
variance with Ribbentrop' s, since he had always held 
that Germany's predominant interests in southeastern
Europe were economic and they could best be achieved by 
 
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