Post by Diarist on Feb 21, 2017 9:12:46 GMT 1
From the British Embassy in Berlin we have received reports of heavy gunfire. It is amazing that the telephones are still working. All the allied advancing forces appear to have reached their objectives without incident. Everybody here is relieved to hear that. At the moment we are only theoretically at war. Daladier and Winston have been almost constantly on the phone. A major caught my attention and was beckoning me to take a phone call.
"Robert Carter speaking."
"Wilhelm Canaris am Apparat."
"What's going on, Wilhelm? Did Hitler give the order to enter the Rhineland? Yes or no?"
"He did. Hitler is dead as are many of the Nazi ministers. The SS started a shootout here in the Wehrmachtamt when von Blomberg wanted to place Hitler under arrest. Bob, all our troops have been ordered to stop advancing. The trains have also stopped moving westwards. To our knowledge no Wehrmacht soldiers have crossed the Rhine."
"I understand. Now what? You realize that we are technically at war."
"I realize that. Von Blomberg is talking with General Gamelin. We are trying to arrange a meeting to discuss our future relationship. We do not desire war, Bob."
"I know that, Wilhelm. You're not in the position to wage one either."
"We know that too. Hitler and von Neurath were the main architects here. Nobody in the military wanted this to happen."
"We want peace in Europe, Wilhelm. Permanent peace between our nations. Let me confer with Winston for a moment. He's talking to Daladier."
I motioned to Winston. "I have Canaris on the phone. They want to meet us somewhere. How about Luxembourg City on Wednesday morning. Wilhelm, Winston is trying to arrange Wednesday morning in Luxembourg City."
"Let me consult with von Blomberg." Winston signalled that Paris accepts the proposal. "Cercle-Cité at 10:00 is the goal but it will have to be confirmed."
"Thank you, Winston. Wilhelm, are you there?"
"I'm here."
"France and Britain are proposing the Cercle-Cité at 10:00 on Wednesday morning. The venue has to be confirmed so who can I talk to later. I'm heading to Paris in the morning so I'll have to call from there."
"You can call me at the number I gave you. They'll know how to contact me if I'm elsewhere." Winston held up one hand signalling a five. "Delegates?" He nodded. "Britain, France and Germany should each send five delegates. I'm suggesting no diplomats. This is a military matter."
"I agree entirely. Will you be there?"
"I'll probably be the head of the delegation. I hope you are there." The connection went dead.
I related my conversation with Wilhelm to the PM and Winston.
"They are not wasting any time to rid themselves of the Nazi government," Stanley Baldwin.
"At least we don't have to demand that they do that," I remarked.
"I still want you to head the delegation, Bob."
"Good. You are part of my delegation, Winston. You need to talk with Daladier on the sidelines anyway."
"That's true."
"Can someone call Luxembourg? They are probably awake. We need a confirmation of the venue." Stanley Baldwin left us. "No diplomats in my team, Winston. This is an MoD/SOE project."
"I'll support you there. Who else do you want?"
"John Gort from the Army, Louis representing the Royal Navy and AVM Freeman for the RAF. All smart people in my team."
"Good choices, Bob."
"I'd like to go to Saarbrücken to meet Charles de Gaulle. I want a first hand view of the situation. I'll travel to Luxembourg from there. With your permission of course."
"That's fine with me, Bob."
Stanley Baldwin returned. "You guessed right. They are awake. They welcome our delegations to Luxembourg. They agree to using the Cercle-Cité as the venue."
"All we need now is accommodation."
"Our Embassy in Luxembourg will arrange will arrange that."
"Good I'll call them when I arrive."
"Bob's going to Saarland first."
"Do we have drivers here to take me home? I need to pack and maybe grab a few hours sleep."
"COL Thomson is here. I'll round up the team and meet you in Luxembourg later this evening."
"Until later. Good night."