Post by Diarist on Mar 17, 2017 18:42:18 GMT 1
I'm not a fan of funerals and one on this scale left me wishing I were invisible. At least the weather behaved. I was surprised to learn that Mum had been invited to the ceremony and even more so when I found out that her guest was Wallis Simpson. Crown Prince Ruppert is a very welcome guest here and even has a place to stay until he has found a more permanent solution. For more about the funeral in Windsor see: bit.ly/2mDxl3T
At the wake afterwards I had a chance to greet Edward. He was wearing his Dress uniform but without all the Royal decorations. "How have people reacted to your unusual role as King of England?"
"It's almost as if they are expecting it of me. How was Berlin?"
"Amusing. I like Crown Prince Ruppert, he's quite a character."
"I like him too. Thanks for bringing him here. Do you have anything planned this evening, Bob?"
"As a matter of fact I do and I can't get out of it. Tomorrow is also planned. We are taking advantage of so many foreign dignitaries being in London and hoping to conduct talks on the side-lines. I'm looking for the Polish President, have you seen him?"
"He is here somewhere. Good luck finding him. I have to move on."
I eventually found President Moscicki and COL Stanisław Maczek, the head of the Polish Section in TRADOC, was with him so I didn't have to worry about looking for an interpreter. "Good afternoon, Mr. President, Colonel Maczek. I was hoping you would be here."
"Sir Robert, I was hoping that we would meet too despite it being a sad reason for coming to Britain."
"Yes, very sad. King George was a good King. Thank you again for being here. I am hoping that we could discuss the recent changes in Europe. A lot has happened since we met last month."
"I wish that too so can we meet this evening?"
"Not this evening, I'm fully booked but may I suggest you talk with Konrad Adenauer. He's the new German Chancellor and Foreign Secretary and I have helped formulate a solution for the Danzig Corridor problem. One which you could accept, Mr. President."
"That is interesting. Let us find him. We also need to address Mr. Rejewski's project."
"I agree. I want to arrange a meeting before you travel back to Warsaw. How long can you stay in England, Sir? We have a lot to discuss."
"I have to be in Warsaw on Friday afternoon, Sir Robert."
"Excellent. Let's find Mr. Adenauer then I'll organize a meeting for this evening or tomorrow morning." Herr Adenauer wasn't too difficult to find.
"Guten Tag, Herr Adenauer. Have you been informed about the latest Danzig Corridor proposal?"
"I have and I believe it is an acceptable solution."
"Then would you be prepared to talk with the Polish President? I haven't told him any details but he is interested in improving relations with Germany."
After bringing them together I went looking for Winston and found him with Stanley Baldwin and a couple of cabinet ministers. I took him to one side then told him that Moscicki wants to talk about Enigma. "How about 10:00 at MCD followed by lunch at the MoD and Defence Council meeting afterwards."
"Please arrange that. What shall we tell the Germans about our Enigma work?"
"We don't mention the Polish work but can tell them that we have been trying break the code but have only had limited success with the Luftwaffe codes because they have been lazy and taking shortcuts. I have a few ideas but I want to talk to Bletchley and Henry Tizard first. And I'll organize the MCD meeting in the morning. COL Thomson can do the rest."
Next I started looking Mum and Wallis but Sally found me first. Mum was with her Admiral again but LTC Rodriguez was also there with a stranger who I presumed to be General Franco. I guessed right.
"General Franco? Buenas tardes. I'm Bob Carter. We've been in touch before."
"Si, we finally meet."
"We have a lot to talk about. I understand the we are dining together this evening at the Army and Navy Club."
"That is correct but can we talk alone first?"
"Of course we can. Let me find a suitable room, General."
At the wake afterwards I had a chance to greet Edward. He was wearing his Dress uniform but without all the Royal decorations. "How have people reacted to your unusual role as King of England?"
"It's almost as if they are expecting it of me. How was Berlin?"
"Amusing. I like Crown Prince Ruppert, he's quite a character."
"I like him too. Thanks for bringing him here. Do you have anything planned this evening, Bob?"
"As a matter of fact I do and I can't get out of it. Tomorrow is also planned. We are taking advantage of so many foreign dignitaries being in London and hoping to conduct talks on the side-lines. I'm looking for the Polish President, have you seen him?"
"He is here somewhere. Good luck finding him. I have to move on."
I eventually found President Moscicki and COL Stanisław Maczek, the head of the Polish Section in TRADOC, was with him so I didn't have to worry about looking for an interpreter. "Good afternoon, Mr. President, Colonel Maczek. I was hoping you would be here."
"Sir Robert, I was hoping that we would meet too despite it being a sad reason for coming to Britain."
"Yes, very sad. King George was a good King. Thank you again for being here. I am hoping that we could discuss the recent changes in Europe. A lot has happened since we met last month."
"I wish that too so can we meet this evening?"
"Not this evening, I'm fully booked but may I suggest you talk with Konrad Adenauer. He's the new German Chancellor and Foreign Secretary and I have helped formulate a solution for the Danzig Corridor problem. One which you could accept, Mr. President."
"That is interesting. Let us find him. We also need to address Mr. Rejewski's project."
"I agree. I want to arrange a meeting before you travel back to Warsaw. How long can you stay in England, Sir? We have a lot to discuss."
"I have to be in Warsaw on Friday afternoon, Sir Robert."
"Excellent. Let's find Mr. Adenauer then I'll organize a meeting for this evening or tomorrow morning." Herr Adenauer wasn't too difficult to find.
"Guten Tag, Herr Adenauer. Have you been informed about the latest Danzig Corridor proposal?"
"I have and I believe it is an acceptable solution."
"Then would you be prepared to talk with the Polish President? I haven't told him any details but he is interested in improving relations with Germany."
After bringing them together I went looking for Winston and found him with Stanley Baldwin and a couple of cabinet ministers. I took him to one side then told him that Moscicki wants to talk about Enigma. "How about 10:00 at MCD followed by lunch at the MoD and Defence Council meeting afterwards."
"Please arrange that. What shall we tell the Germans about our Enigma work?"
"We don't mention the Polish work but can tell them that we have been trying break the code but have only had limited success with the Luftwaffe codes because they have been lazy and taking shortcuts. I have a few ideas but I want to talk to Bletchley and Henry Tizard first. And I'll organize the MCD meeting in the morning. COL Thomson can do the rest."
Next I started looking Mum and Wallis but Sally found me first. Mum was with her Admiral again but LTC Rodriguez was also there with a stranger who I presumed to be General Franco. I guessed right.
"General Franco? Buenas tardes. I'm Bob Carter. We've been in touch before."
"Si, we finally meet."
"We have a lot to talk about. I understand the we are dining together this evening at the Army and Navy Club."
"That is correct but can we talk alone first?"
"Of course we can. Let me find a suitable room, General."