-7- that at the first appropriate opportunity he himself, in a public speech, would indicate Germany's intention to cooperate towards that end. Insofar as the question of the limitation and reduction of armaments is concerned, Goering made to me very much the same statement as that made to me by Hitler the day before. He said that the armament race was ruining the economy of the entire world, and that no people could stand the strain much longer. He said that time and time again the German Government had offered in all sincerity to participate in any reasonable plan for disarmament, and time and time again her offers had been rejected. If peace came, Germany would enter into any practical plan which would make a real reduction of armaments possible. Goering reverted to the British war objectives. He said that he was completely convinced that the British and French Governments were determined to destroy the German Regime, to subjugate the German people, and to split Germany into small units under military control. He said, "The English say that that is the way to get a lasting peace, because early in the 19th century, when Germany was a collection of small independent states, with an infinity of customs barriers, the Germans were only a race of musicians and poets. But they have never made a greater mistake. If they succeeded today in carrying out that plan, they would find, not a race of musicians and poets, but a horde of Bolsheviks and Communists." At the end of our interview the Field Marshal said to me very simply, but with a great deal of feeling, "My government is grateful to your Government for your mission. I fear that when you visit Paris and London you will realize that |