Post by Diarist on Mar 4, 2017 15:51:36 GMT 1
We travelled to Southend in a first class carriage which had added to the end of the train. The journey lasted just over an hour and 30 minutes later the admiral's barge brought us to HMS Nelson. A couple hours later we arrived at entrance to Elbe estuary and a river pilot boarded our ship. Several powerful tugs were also present. At about 8 knots we slowly proceed upstream. On deck were a few hundred sailors in navy whites and Germans on the both sides of the river were waving. A month ago this would have been unthinkable. I'm not quite sure but I believe that the Nelson-class battleships are the largest and most powerful warships in the world so for those greeting us it must be quite a spectacle.
The sun was setting as we finally reached a landing stage in Hamburg Mitte. We were greeted by the German delegation headed by General von Blomberg as well as Hamburg dignitaries. The greetings took more than half an hour but eventually we arrived at the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten and were shown our suites. Very nice indeed. We changed into something more casual then went to a dining hall where dinner was being served. I asked when the French delegation will arrive and Wilhelm told me that they won't be. The Germans are going to Paris next weekend. It was first time I heard that these are bilateral talks and when I think about it we can maybe make more progress with just our two nations. We had a 5+1 dinner arrangement. The five from Luxembourg plus Anthony Eden on our side of the table with General von Blomberg on the German side.
"We talked on the telephone last Thursday," I said to General von Bloomberg. "Thank you for your swift support."
"We wanted the talks to succeed, Sir Robert. Germany has no desire for war and to be honest we don't have the ability to wage war either but I'm sure you already know that."
Winston replied that we are aware of that. "What do you expect to achieve this weekend, General?" He asked.
"We are hoping to go to Paris next weekend and say that all major obstacles between Germany and Great Britain have been resolved."
"In Luxembourg we talked about the anti-Semitic laws which the Nazis introduced. As long as those laws and laws against other minorities are still in effect we can't proceed with the Confederation talks," I replied.
"We are proposing a provisional government which will among other things prepare for free elections as soon as possible. Konrad Adenauer will be the Chancellor and Foreign Secretary while I am the acting President and Chief of the Wehrmacht. This has however not been ratified in the Reichstag. All the elected NSDAP members of the Reichstag have either been arrested or are dead. They are being replaced by the candidates who were runners-up in those constituencies in the last general election. We plan to convene parliament on Monday to legitimize these measures. We then plan to dismantle all the legislation introduced by the NSDAP regime.
The compensation of families and persons who suffered injustices under Nazi rule is more complicated. We are proposing an international body chaired by the International Red Cross with representatives from our two nations plus France and any other nation where Jewish German nationals are now residing."
"Let me stop you there please, General. You are only talking about compensation here, is that correct?"
"Yes it is."
"This body will also accept cases for Jews and minorities still residing in Germany?"
"Yes."
"What if they want their homes, their jobs or their businesses returned to them? Would that be respected too?"
"The Government would respect it but is that realistic? To return to their previous lives as if nothing had happened?"
"I admit that it wouldn't be easy but the option must be available. Do you agree, General?"
"Yes, of course."
Anthony Eden asked if a European federal organization could be used instead if the IRC. "I meant that but chaired by someone from the IRC," General von Blomberg clarified.
"Can we answer that tomorrow?" I asked and it was accepted.
"I would like to ask about your cooperation with China," Winston said changing the subject, "It is our understanding that Germany tried to negotiate an anti-Soviet agreement with Japan but talks broke down because of Germany's relationship with China."
"We did try to arrange that," Canaris answered.
"Would Germany be interested in an Anglo-French-German agreement with China to support them against Russia or Japanese aggression?"
"In principle we would be interested because we are hoping for increased economic ties with China. It's a huge market."
"You are preaching to the converted, General."
"I understand that you wish to have Wehrmacht officers within our TRADOC," John Gort remarked.
"We have heard nothing but praise about TRADOC and its achievements. In fact several of our officers were visitors there during the last six months. Can Germany send officers to TRADOC, General Gort?"
"If Germany is no longer considered a potential adversary then you could. There is something else you need to be aware of. Both France and Britain consider the Soviet Union and Imperial Japan to be future enemies and we have no doubt that in the near future we shall be at war with one or both of them. If Germany were to join the Confederation of European States then Germany would also be at war. We are discussing peace in western Europe now but France and Britain have colonies and dominions all around the world. Would Germany be willing to send troops, aircraft and warships to the Far East, for example? These are questions you need to ask yourselves before joining. There are many benefits but there also obligations."
"I'd like to taste some of the local beer. Is anyone else interested?" Louis immediately seconded the motion.
The sun was setting as we finally reached a landing stage in Hamburg Mitte. We were greeted by the German delegation headed by General von Blomberg as well as Hamburg dignitaries. The greetings took more than half an hour but eventually we arrived at the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten and were shown our suites. Very nice indeed. We changed into something more casual then went to a dining hall where dinner was being served. I asked when the French delegation will arrive and Wilhelm told me that they won't be. The Germans are going to Paris next weekend. It was first time I heard that these are bilateral talks and when I think about it we can maybe make more progress with just our two nations. We had a 5+1 dinner arrangement. The five from Luxembourg plus Anthony Eden on our side of the table with General von Blomberg on the German side.
"We talked on the telephone last Thursday," I said to General von Bloomberg. "Thank you for your swift support."
"We wanted the talks to succeed, Sir Robert. Germany has no desire for war and to be honest we don't have the ability to wage war either but I'm sure you already know that."
Winston replied that we are aware of that. "What do you expect to achieve this weekend, General?" He asked.
"We are hoping to go to Paris next weekend and say that all major obstacles between Germany and Great Britain have been resolved."
"In Luxembourg we talked about the anti-Semitic laws which the Nazis introduced. As long as those laws and laws against other minorities are still in effect we can't proceed with the Confederation talks," I replied.
"We are proposing a provisional government which will among other things prepare for free elections as soon as possible. Konrad Adenauer will be the Chancellor and Foreign Secretary while I am the acting President and Chief of the Wehrmacht. This has however not been ratified in the Reichstag. All the elected NSDAP members of the Reichstag have either been arrested or are dead. They are being replaced by the candidates who were runners-up in those constituencies in the last general election. We plan to convene parliament on Monday to legitimize these measures. We then plan to dismantle all the legislation introduced by the NSDAP regime.
The compensation of families and persons who suffered injustices under Nazi rule is more complicated. We are proposing an international body chaired by the International Red Cross with representatives from our two nations plus France and any other nation where Jewish German nationals are now residing."
"Let me stop you there please, General. You are only talking about compensation here, is that correct?"
"Yes it is."
"This body will also accept cases for Jews and minorities still residing in Germany?"
"Yes."
"What if they want their homes, their jobs or their businesses returned to them? Would that be respected too?"
"The Government would respect it but is that realistic? To return to their previous lives as if nothing had happened?"
"I admit that it wouldn't be easy but the option must be available. Do you agree, General?"
"Yes, of course."
Anthony Eden asked if a European federal organization could be used instead if the IRC. "I meant that but chaired by someone from the IRC," General von Blomberg clarified.
"Can we answer that tomorrow?" I asked and it was accepted.
"I would like to ask about your cooperation with China," Winston said changing the subject, "It is our understanding that Germany tried to negotiate an anti-Soviet agreement with Japan but talks broke down because of Germany's relationship with China."
"We did try to arrange that," Canaris answered.
"Would Germany be interested in an Anglo-French-German agreement with China to support them against Russia or Japanese aggression?"
"In principle we would be interested because we are hoping for increased economic ties with China. It's a huge market."
"You are preaching to the converted, General."
"I understand that you wish to have Wehrmacht officers within our TRADOC," John Gort remarked.
"We have heard nothing but praise about TRADOC and its achievements. In fact several of our officers were visitors there during the last six months. Can Germany send officers to TRADOC, General Gort?"
"If Germany is no longer considered a potential adversary then you could. There is something else you need to be aware of. Both France and Britain consider the Soviet Union and Imperial Japan to be future enemies and we have no doubt that in the near future we shall be at war with one or both of them. If Germany were to join the Confederation of European States then Germany would also be at war. We are discussing peace in western Europe now but France and Britain have colonies and dominions all around the world. Would Germany be willing to send troops, aircraft and warships to the Far East, for example? These are questions you need to ask yourselves before joining. There are many benefits but there also obligations."
"I'd like to taste some of the local beer. Is anyone else interested?" Louis immediately seconded the motion.