10 Dec 1935 - Prague

[Diarist]

Today is Tuesday the 10th and we have just landed in Prague, Czechoslovakia. After a short stop in Athens yesterday we flew further to Beograd where we remained overnight. In both capitals I thanked the leaders for their support in the recent Italian conflict. Both countries gained territory and the victory has helped to ease tensions at home.
In Greece I spoke with two of their top generals, Metaxas and Papagos, about the post-Mussolini era. After his demise there is no longer any threat of an Italian invasion of Albania so they can now concentrate on defending against Bulgaria. In Beograd I briefly met with Prince Regent Paul and his Prime Minister Stojadinovic. They are strong supporters of the South European Locarno Treaty and although I am personally not a great supporter of it I suggested building stronger ties with the new Italy. I confirmed that three squadrons with Hawker Fury aircraft will be transferred to Yugoslavia in early spring.
I told their Chief of Staff General Manic the same later in the evening. I joked that his job should be much easier now that Mussolini is gone but he quickly reminded me of the threat which Hitler poses. He was right because if Austria becomes part of Germany they'll have a common border. The Trieste region which they had received from Italy was a former Austrian region. Yugoslavia is in great danger of being a prime Nazi target and they wouldn't need Italy to have a Mediterranean strategy. Why didn't I think of that earlier?
I now view my visit to Czechoslovakia and Poland in a different light.

[Diarist]

We were greeted at the airport by Defence Minister Machník and GEN Krejčí, the Chief of the General Staff. We were driven to the Ministry of Defence then introduced a dozen more people. We had agreed to communicate in German and at lunch we mostly talked about general issues although my age was a topic for a while. They had not been expecting someone so young and were even more surprised when I informed them that I'm a major in the British Army.
I also explained what TRADOC is and its role in Britain's defence programme. This led the discussion to the massive German rearmament and the threat it poses to Czechoslovakia and other neighbours. I said that Britain is very aware of the situation and has told the Germans in very clear language that we recognize their right to rearm themselves in order to defend their nation but if they were to go beyond that we would be on a collision course. When asked about our rearmament programme I told them that we are not rearming, we are expanding and undergoing extensive modernization.
After lunch Sally and I retired with the Defence Minister and CGS to a comfortable lounge and we discussed what was notably not mentioned earlier, i.e. the Sudetenland question.
"I was hoping we could also discuss the Rhineland question and maybe combine the two." That caught them by surprise.
It was GEN Krejčí who broke the silence. "To be honest I don't quite follow your line of thought."
"Politically Hitler has suffered two foreign policy defeats involving Austria. In my opinion he wouldn't survive a third defeat. The German economy is very vulnerable. Germany is importing massively for the war economy but it's neglecting the civilian population. The people are hungry and most have forgotten what a decent steak is. Militarily Germany is also very vulnerable with almost no trained army. If Germany were to enter the Rhineland it would be an 'Act of War'. Britain as a guarantor of the Locarno Treaties is obligated to react but we don't want to go to war but there are non-war options which would force Hitler to back down (again). Germany's only claim to the Sudetenland are the 3 million ethnic Germans living there, a former Austrian province, not a German province. You give the Sudeten Germans one hour to pack their suitcases then march them across the border into Germany. 3 million more mouths to feed and the Germans cannot allow them to starve. We kill three birds with one stone. Hitler is toppled, the war machine is kaputt and your Sudeten problem is solved. Are you following my line of thought?"
"The German threat would be gone."
"Yes, Minister and ironically it would be Hitler throwing the stone. I like that."
It was Sally who first said something. "That's ingenious. A stone that turns into a boomerang." We were all laughing now.
"First we have to keep it secret. Your President and Prime Minister have to know because it's their decision to make. (Czechoslovakia is the only democracy east of the Rhine.) Nobody else needs to know. Second, do you have a large enough workforce to fill the vacated positions in Sudetenland? If not, your economy will suffer. Third, it would be unwise for separate Czech and Slovak Republics to be formed. You might become too attractive for other neighbours to resist."
"All things which need to be carefully considered."

We retired to prepare for the dinner at the President's palace this evening.