Text Version


-8-
 
     The Fuehrer had made every effort to make clear to England and France that Germany 
 
wished in no way to endanger British or French security. It had been England and France who had
 
insisted upon declaring war on Germany. Germany would not have declared war on England and
 
France.
 
          Germany wished for nothing more in Europe than what the United States possessed 
 
through the Monroe Doctrine in the Western Hemisphere. As a great power she was entitled to 
 
the safeguarding of her vital, interests. He had been in the United States, and he knew how every
 
American citizen felt, and he thought quite legitimately, that the preservation of the Monroe
 
Doctrine was fundamental in insuring the safety of America's world position. Germany was
 
entitled to the same situation in Central Europe. Germany desired nothing more than the unity
 
under the German Reich of the German people in Europe; the return of the colonies which
 
had been stolen from her at Versailles, so that she might thence obtain the raw materials she could
 
not herself produce, and make possible the profitable emigration to them of German nationals; the
 
ensured recognition by the other Great Powers of her sphere of influence in Central Europe--
 
just as she was willing to respect the spheres of influence of the other great European powers; the
 
independence and autonomy of the smaller powers of Europe which had a clearly established
 
historical right to independence. With regard to such powers, the Minister said, Germany had not
 
the faintest design upon them, although she must expect that in trade matters the independent
 
powers within her sphere of influence would have close economic ties with the Reich. And in that
 
.connection I must not forget that one thousand years ago German Emperors had been crowned in
 
Prague. Germany, however, had
View Original View Previous Page View Next Page Return to Folder IndexReturn to Box Index