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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.