Post by Diarist on Sept 20, 2016 8:23:38 GMT 1
At the Embassy I informed Sir George of PM Daladier's intention to visit London later this month and that my visit to Paris was very productive and could he please pass that on to Anthony Eden. I thanked him for his hospitality and said that I'd be flying to Brussels within the next couple of hours. At the residence I called the telephone number in Brussels that Edward had given me. I talked King Leopold III's private secretary and he had been expecting my call. I confirmed that I'd be arriving at Haren airport at ca. 18:00. There will be cars waiting for us and tonight we shall be staying at Château de Laeken, the Royal Residence. Arrangements for my companions have also been made.
As promised the cars were waiting and we were driven to the splendid château, i.e. palace. After being shown our room and a change of clothes, not into my uniform, Sally and I were introduced to King Leopold III.
"Edward has told me that you are good friends."
"That's correct, Your Majesty. He was my best man when Sally and I married in September and we had our wedding party in Windsor Castle. A splendid event."
"I've taken the liberty of inviting the Prime Minister and Defence Minister for dinner this evening. Is there anybody else you would like to meet?"
"If it is no trouble, Sir I would suggest adding the Army Chief of Staff."
"Consider it done, that's me. How is Edward?"
"He's in excellent health and enjoys being a soldier. When we first met in April I had to tell him to leave his honorary colonel's uniform at home tomorrow. You are Captain Wales here. He's now a major and is parachute trained."
"I am a good friend of his partner Wallis Simpson. That's how Bob and I met," Sally added.
"It was love at first sight. I didn't stand a chance so I capitulated." That earned me a slap.
"How about a drink before the guests arrive?"
"I thought you'd never ask, Sir. I'm parched. I've heard that Stella Artois is a good beer but I've never tried one."
"It is good. I like it too. What would you like, Sally?"
"I'd like to try the beer too, Sir since I'm not driving Bob home today. I'm often his chauffeur, especially on Friday evenings."
"That's when I visit the Army and Navy Club. Men only."
Shortly later I was introduced to the Prime Minister, Paul van Zeeland, and the Minister of Defence Albert Devèze. After a wonderful dinner we retired to a small lounge and started to discuss business.
"Sally is my personal secretary so she is privy to most of my correspondence so we can speak freely." I then told them about Hitler's desire to remilitarize the Rhineland and that Britain intends to resist Germany's move and Germany has been told that. "I've just come from Paris and I know that your 1920 Alliance with France is just a piece of paper. As a signatory of the Locarno Pact Belgium is obliged to support Britain if requested. My question is what contingency plans do you have if Hitler decides to enter the Rhineland?"
King Leopold answered. "While it is true that we have no coordinated plans with France it doesn't mean we won't resist Germany."
"I'm pleased to hear that, Your Majesty, and I assure you that His Majesty's armed forces would support Belgium if it were necessary but my question referred to the Rhineland not the defence of Belgium if Germany were to attack."
"We would respond appropriately."
"I'm not a dentist, Sir. I don't like pulling teeth. What contingency plans do you have? If none, are you open for suggestions? Let me make it easier for you. Let's pretend that Hitler makes his move at midnight. He sends troops into the Rhineland. If Stanley Baldwin were to call you at 01:00 and asked you to occupy Aix-la-Chapelle by daybreak, could you do it and would you be willing to do it? Not to attack the city but occupy it without firing a shot."
"To be honest I don't know if we could respond that fast."
"Hitler won't wait for you to get ready, Sir. Do you have a general, or a colonel, who is an advocate of mobile warfare?"
"There is Raoul van Oberstraeten. He follows the ideas of your John Fuller and France's de Gaulle," Albert Devèze answered.
"Interesting. Would it be possible to meet him tomorrow morning? Maybe he could show me one of the forts you are building on the Belgian border."
"That can be arranged. Entering Aix-la-Chapelle is a drastic move."
"It wouldn't be a breach of the Locarno Treaties if Britain asked you to do it. It was just a theoretical question, Sir. Nothing more. I'm an advocate of a strong response to German aggression. It was my idea to attack NW Italy because most of Mussolini's best forces were in Africa. What's defending Italy I asked. Mussolini's forces were defeated within a week and he is now history. We need a similar resolve to counter Germany aggression. Hitler has been forced to back down twice trying to take Austria. Failed dictators don't stay in power long. Need I add more, Your Majesty?"
"It's a huge gamble and could plunge Europe into another terrible war."
"Hitler would be the one gambling and he has everything to lose. We have nothing to lose, Sir. We have everything to gain because Germany is not ready for war and Hitler's generals know that."
We talked for another hour then retired. There is a whiff of neutrality in the air but I believe they wish for Locarno to be successful. More tomorrow.
As promised the cars were waiting and we were driven to the splendid château, i.e. palace. After being shown our room and a change of clothes, not into my uniform, Sally and I were introduced to King Leopold III.
"Edward has told me that you are good friends."
"That's correct, Your Majesty. He was my best man when Sally and I married in September and we had our wedding party in Windsor Castle. A splendid event."
"I've taken the liberty of inviting the Prime Minister and Defence Minister for dinner this evening. Is there anybody else you would like to meet?"
"If it is no trouble, Sir I would suggest adding the Army Chief of Staff."
"Consider it done, that's me. How is Edward?"
"He's in excellent health and enjoys being a soldier. When we first met in April I had to tell him to leave his honorary colonel's uniform at home tomorrow. You are Captain Wales here. He's now a major and is parachute trained."
"I am a good friend of his partner Wallis Simpson. That's how Bob and I met," Sally added.
"It was love at first sight. I didn't stand a chance so I capitulated." That earned me a slap.
"How about a drink before the guests arrive?"
"I thought you'd never ask, Sir. I'm parched. I've heard that Stella Artois is a good beer but I've never tried one."
"It is good. I like it too. What would you like, Sally?"
"I'd like to try the beer too, Sir since I'm not driving Bob home today. I'm often his chauffeur, especially on Friday evenings."
"That's when I visit the Army and Navy Club. Men only."
Shortly later I was introduced to the Prime Minister, Paul van Zeeland, and the Minister of Defence Albert Devèze. After a wonderful dinner we retired to a small lounge and started to discuss business.
"Sally is my personal secretary so she is privy to most of my correspondence so we can speak freely." I then told them about Hitler's desire to remilitarize the Rhineland and that Britain intends to resist Germany's move and Germany has been told that. "I've just come from Paris and I know that your 1920 Alliance with France is just a piece of paper. As a signatory of the Locarno Pact Belgium is obliged to support Britain if requested. My question is what contingency plans do you have if Hitler decides to enter the Rhineland?"
King Leopold answered. "While it is true that we have no coordinated plans with France it doesn't mean we won't resist Germany."
"I'm pleased to hear that, Your Majesty, and I assure you that His Majesty's armed forces would support Belgium if it were necessary but my question referred to the Rhineland not the defence of Belgium if Germany were to attack."
"We would respond appropriately."
"I'm not a dentist, Sir. I don't like pulling teeth. What contingency plans do you have? If none, are you open for suggestions? Let me make it easier for you. Let's pretend that Hitler makes his move at midnight. He sends troops into the Rhineland. If Stanley Baldwin were to call you at 01:00 and asked you to occupy Aix-la-Chapelle by daybreak, could you do it and would you be willing to do it? Not to attack the city but occupy it without firing a shot."
"To be honest I don't know if we could respond that fast."
"Hitler won't wait for you to get ready, Sir. Do you have a general, or a colonel, who is an advocate of mobile warfare?"
"There is Raoul van Oberstraeten. He follows the ideas of your John Fuller and France's de Gaulle," Albert Devèze answered.
"Interesting. Would it be possible to meet him tomorrow morning? Maybe he could show me one of the forts you are building on the Belgian border."
"That can be arranged. Entering Aix-la-Chapelle is a drastic move."
"It wouldn't be a breach of the Locarno Treaties if Britain asked you to do it. It was just a theoretical question, Sir. Nothing more. I'm an advocate of a strong response to German aggression. It was my idea to attack NW Italy because most of Mussolini's best forces were in Africa. What's defending Italy I asked. Mussolini's forces were defeated within a week and he is now history. We need a similar resolve to counter Germany aggression. Hitler has been forced to back down twice trying to take Austria. Failed dictators don't stay in power long. Need I add more, Your Majesty?"
"It's a huge gamble and could plunge Europe into another terrible war."
"Hitler would be the one gambling and he has everything to lose. We have nothing to lose, Sir. We have everything to gain because Germany is not ready for war and Hitler's generals know that."
We talked for another hour then retired. There is a whiff of neutrality in the air but I believe they wish for Locarno to be successful. More tomorrow.