Post by Diarist on Mar 12, 2017 14:01:53 GMT 1
I said farewell to the rest of the delegation at breakfast because they will be departing shortly afterwards. I met General Beck and we proceeded to the conference room where at least a hundred journalists and photographers were present. General Beck spoke for several minutes then I continued in German. I told them that Britain welcomed the invitation to meet in Hamburg this weekend and continue where we left off in Luxembourg.
"As General Beck just explained we have been exploring the option of a non-aggression pact between not only our two nations but also the French Republic. After a pact has been agreed upon and ratified by our governments we wish to extend invitations to other European nations. Further meetings are planned in London and Paris in the course of the next week. General Beck and I head the military delegations from Germany and Britain and we have been discussing areas where we cooperate with instead of competing against each other. There are many areas where that is possible but we need to ratify the proposed pact first. We have made considerable progress in Luxembourg and Hamburg and I am confident that an agreement can be signed as soon as next month. We have agreed to take questions but could you please state your name and which organization you represent."
A reporter from a Berlin newspaper asked where this concept originated. "It first arose last month when Britain, France and Belgium agreed that we would respond to a German attempt to remilitarize the Rhineland. We asked ourselves what comes next. There were two options. Either we bind Germany into our desire for peace between our three nations or we invade Germany and tear it apart into small pieces. We create a pre-Bismarck Germany again. Fortunately for all of us General Beck agreed with our desire for peace and a rightful place for Germany as an equal partner within this peaceful Western Europe."
General Beck added that it was not a difficult decision to make. "There was no real alternative to conceding defeat. We were soundly defeated but in the Treaty of Luxembourg there was no punishment for Germany just the desire to move on and talk about permanent peace and economic cooperation between our nations."
Someone from a Basler newspaper asked about the economic cooperation and would Switzerland also benefit. "I believe that most European nations could benefit if they were to adopt our policies. We have introduced a conscription system where the unemployed are called up first and are being taught a trade and working in the industries which are producing equipment for our armed forces. Eventually they will receive formal military training and be assigned to support or manoeuvre units which are earmarked to maintain or utilize this new equipment. The cost of training these new soldiers is shared by the government and industry. If Switzerland were to become a member of this Non-Aggression club it would definitely benefit from joint projects."
I refused to elaborate on what the joint projects are saying they are military projects. When asked about German military expansion I told them that both Britain and France support it but not in its current form because too many Germans are going hungry.
This went on for another hour before we told them we have to leave so that we can travel to Berlin. A funny part was when a question came from someone who was obviously Swabian. I've had plenty of practice with Irvine and family so I answered in Swabian dialect much to the amusement of the non-Swabians. I added some Bavarian dialect imitating Goering when asked about the Luftwaffe and that went down well. He was famous for his bombastic statements.
Eventually we were on the train to Berlin and there is also a restaurant carriage so you can guess where I am.
"As General Beck just explained we have been exploring the option of a non-aggression pact between not only our two nations but also the French Republic. After a pact has been agreed upon and ratified by our governments we wish to extend invitations to other European nations. Further meetings are planned in London and Paris in the course of the next week. General Beck and I head the military delegations from Germany and Britain and we have been discussing areas where we cooperate with instead of competing against each other. There are many areas where that is possible but we need to ratify the proposed pact first. We have made considerable progress in Luxembourg and Hamburg and I am confident that an agreement can be signed as soon as next month. We have agreed to take questions but could you please state your name and which organization you represent."
A reporter from a Berlin newspaper asked where this concept originated. "It first arose last month when Britain, France and Belgium agreed that we would respond to a German attempt to remilitarize the Rhineland. We asked ourselves what comes next. There were two options. Either we bind Germany into our desire for peace between our three nations or we invade Germany and tear it apart into small pieces. We create a pre-Bismarck Germany again. Fortunately for all of us General Beck agreed with our desire for peace and a rightful place for Germany as an equal partner within this peaceful Western Europe."
General Beck added that it was not a difficult decision to make. "There was no real alternative to conceding defeat. We were soundly defeated but in the Treaty of Luxembourg there was no punishment for Germany just the desire to move on and talk about permanent peace and economic cooperation between our nations."
Someone from a Basler newspaper asked about the economic cooperation and would Switzerland also benefit. "I believe that most European nations could benefit if they were to adopt our policies. We have introduced a conscription system where the unemployed are called up first and are being taught a trade and working in the industries which are producing equipment for our armed forces. Eventually they will receive formal military training and be assigned to support or manoeuvre units which are earmarked to maintain or utilize this new equipment. The cost of training these new soldiers is shared by the government and industry. If Switzerland were to become a member of this Non-Aggression club it would definitely benefit from joint projects."
I refused to elaborate on what the joint projects are saying they are military projects. When asked about German military expansion I told them that both Britain and France support it but not in its current form because too many Germans are going hungry.
This went on for another hour before we told them we have to leave so that we can travel to Berlin. A funny part was when a question came from someone who was obviously Swabian. I've had plenty of practice with Irvine and family so I answered in Swabian dialect much to the amusement of the non-Swabians. I added some Bavarian dialect imitating Goering when asked about the Luftwaffe and that went down well. He was famous for his bombastic statements.
Eventually we were on the train to Berlin and there is also a restaurant carriage so you can guess where I am.