Der Fuehrer - Hitler's Rise to Power (1944) - Heiden

CONQUEST BY PEACE 617career diplomats. But the content of memorials might tomorrow be theofficial foreign policy. Rosenberg's trip to London was in a sense a testof his diplomatic gifts, and its outcome was deplorable. The sight of thismorose figure, the living embodiment of National Socialist race hatred,did much to intensify English distrust of the new Germany. From rightto left Rosenberg found a hostile press; public incidents made his stay inEngland almost unbearable and he soon departed. England's response toHitler's private envoy was broadly this: We can deal with Germany, butnot with National Socialism.This was a misunderstanding, and before the year was out Britishpublic opinion was to be better informed — for in reality it was theNational Socialists who wanted to negotiate, not traditional Germany.The official and competent spokesmen of the traditional German foreignpolicy made no attempt whatever to court understanding anddemonstrate Germany's peaceable intentions. At the GenevaDisarmament Conference, the German delegate Nadolny, a careerdiplomat and personal friend of Hindenburg, fought for Germanequality of armaments, at first impatiently insisting that the othersdisarm, then hinting and threatening that German patience was by nomeans inexhaustible. He condemned MacDon-ald's plan and —instructed by his superior von Neurath — replied with counterproposalswhich, in the eyes of the whole conference, made Germanyappear as a disturber of unity and peace. Neurath wrote a newspaperarticle in a similar undiplomatic tone, stating blundy that if theDisarmament Conference should fail, Germany would in any caserearm. Great agitation in France! The words of Nadolny and Neurathwere taken to mean that German rearmament had already been decided;if this rearmament were to be prevented by force, now was the time todo it. In England the liberal News Chronicle wrote that whatever stepsFrance might undertake, England would stand behind her. On May 11,Lord Hail-sham, the Secretary of War, declared in the House of Lordsthat an attempt at German rearmament would be a breach of the Treatyof Versailles and would be countered by the sanctions provided in thattreaty, by which he meant invasion.Things suddenly looked very grave for Germany despite the ex-