-9- had no desire or intention of preventing the Czech people from having their complete cultural and municipal autonomy--something which the Germans in Czechoslovakia had never possessed under Czech rule. Germany must have her "Monroe Doctrine" in Central Europe. She would never again discuss any question affecting her interests in Eastern Europe except with Soviet Russia, and with Russia she had already reached a complete and satisfactory delimitation of interests in that area. But the days of encirclement--of British and French political meddling in Central and Eastern Europe--were passed and forever. (It was particularly significant that Italy was never mentioned by the Minister throughout the conversation.) British policy made any such recognition of German rights impossible--Britain was determined to annihilate Germany and the German people. In October, Hitler had publicly announced the bases upon which he was willing to make peace. They had again been rejected with contempt. Only last night Eden had publicly declared that the war aim of England was to destroy "Hitlerism". The Minister wanted me to know that every German national was a part of Hitler. The destruction of "Hitlerism meant only the destruction of the German people, for Germany would never again be governed by any form of government other than Hitlerism. Germany was strong and completely confident of ultimate victory. She had immense military superiority, and from her eastern and southern neighbors she could obtain the raw materials she required. She was prepared for a long war, but the Minister was confident it would, be a short war. |