-3- preparation. While we were eating, at least 2,000 Hitler Jugend marched past the hotel door. They were singing the usual songs, one of which starts "Siegreich wollen wir Frankreich schlagen." This song was formerly forbidden. It is now heard every where, at least I have reports that it is sung here in Berlin when the troops are marching. When the hotel man handed me the picture, I said: "Are all of you learning to fly, as Goring suggests?" He replied: "A very great many. We have twenty expert flyers in this town (9,000 population), and they have regi stered 2,000 flyers in Stuttgart (capital, as you know, of Wurttemberg)." I said to him: "Well, that would make a good many flyers for the whole of Ger many." He replied: "Yes, all the big business men want war, and the little men are opposed. I don't know what will happen." This man did not know who I was, as nobody else knew during the whole trip, but he showed his natural reactions and was not a little concerned. I merely mention this as illus trative of the feeling that is frequently reflected in conversations but which is never indicated in any public manner. It is fairly certain that nearly all the population is being held under the strictest control, and as I said above, the object is to put France out of business. The result of all this, if allowed to go through, will of course mean annexations and pre dominance of the whole of Europe. I am not saying this is certain, only all the contemporary evidence points that way. I need hardly take more of your time. Sincerely yours, William E. Dodd Enclosures. |