15 Dec 1935 - 3 Raynhams, Saffron Walden

[Diarist]

We landed safely at RAF Duxford just after 4 o'clock in the afternoon. We had flown to Brussels first to collect our two security personnel. John Gort met us at the airfield and drove us home. Mum gave us both a big hug, the smell of the Sunday roast pervading the house reminded me of how hungry I am. John had already eaten so he retired to my office after I gave him some reports to read. He's an unofficial member of SOE and I have Winston's blessing to show him everything I deem necessary. I haven't given him my special notes 'For Winston's eyes only'. That's his prerogative who he shows them to. After eating I joined John in my office.
"Winston asked me to call him when you returned. He's on his way here, I hope you don't mind."
"Au contraire. I was thinking about calling him myself because I'd prefer not to go back to work tomorrow. I'll drop in to pick up correspondence, etc. and say a brief 'Hello' but I'm too exhausted to concentrate on work."
"You've been busy, Bob. May I presume that the Belgian and Dutch officers are here because of the Rhineland issue?"
"Yes, but they don't know it yet. They are officially here to study our new mobile warfare doctrine. Did Marian Rejewski and his typewriter get to Bletchley Park safely?"
"Indeed they did. The people there were totally amazed when they were introduced to this Polish chap. Outside of Bletchley only you, Winston, Tizard and I know he is here and what he brought with him."
"Sally knows too. Apparently he broke the code in a matter of hours. That's incredible. The Polish president gave him to me and suggested I take him to England. He has a price tag though. That's a report for Winston first."
"Palestine is developing into a full blown conflict? A bit harsh."
"There's no way of avoiding it I'm afraid. We need to prepare for it or get out of the way and in my opinion the latter is not an option."
"Did you bring home any good news?"
"Iran is fixed and hopefully we can export several hundred Hawker monoplane fighters. We just need Winston's approval."
"Which nations?"
"Belgium, Greece, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia and Poland. All under licence but I told them that they'd have to import the Merlin engines. Hopefully they can cooperate in the production of the bits and pieces with each of them having their own assembly line."
There was knock on the door and Winston entered. "Come on in, Winston. The champagne is getting cold. Did you miss me?"
"I did miss you, Bob. How on earth did you arrange that Poland deal?"
"I didn't! President Moscicki handed it to me on a plate without warning. It took me totally by surprise. Here are my reports which John has already seen and here my private notes for you. I have an errand to take care of. I'll be back in 45 minutes."

[Diarist]

I drove to Irvine's house and gave Gertrude her early Christmas present. "Wear one this evening. That's an order!" I told her while smiling. "I hope they fit well."
Irvine asked me how my trip was in German. "Speak English. I have a job for you but you have to speak English to get the job. No more German at TRADOC. Have you understood?"
"Yes, Bob."
"My trip was interesting but also exhausting. I've just come back from Erfurt and Weimar. I met Heinz Guderian and Rudolf Veiel. Rudolf commands Heinz's 2nd Schützen-Brigade. Their 2nd Panzer Division is not as good as our armoured divisions. I have to go. Winston Churchill is at our home reading the reports I've prepared for him. Will you be at the hotel later?"
"Yes. I'll see you there."
Winston and John were downstairs when I arrived back at home but Winston signalled that we needed to talk upstairs. "I don't know where to start, Bob."
"With the good news. Germany's fate is sealed if they enter the Rhineland, whether they go to war or not. Either way they'll cease to be a threat to their neighbours."
"I read your separate report, the one John Gort hasn't seen. Are you certain about the German military?"
"Winston, they are not ready and won't be until '37. They are more worried about Hitler and his cronies than us. They are afraid that the Nazi bosses will start something like the Rhineland, Austria, Sudetenland or whatever and the military simply cannot deliver. It is extremely unlikely that they'll fire the first shot so our forces will have to very disciplined. It's more likely that OKW will arrest the top Nazis if they make a stupid move. I really do believe that we can end this Nazi regime without a shot being fired. The problem is what will replace it."
"Could it get worse?"
"I can't imagine anything worse than plunging Europe into another devastating war."
"Good. Now Palestine. Is there any good news there?"
"The Jews and Arabs have agreed upon a secret four month moratorium on terror attacks starting 01 Jan 1936. That'll give us over four months to build up our forces and prepare a proposal which the Arabs will reject and we end up supporting the Jews. Before you say anything you need to know that the only plan the Grand Mufti and his friends would agree to is an Arab Palestine with NO Jews. Conflict in Palestine is inevitable and imminent. I hope that I've bought four months which we can maybe extend. I already have a couple of proposals. The Grand Mufti is pro-Nazi and supports the Arab terrorist groups and has disqualified himself to lead the Arabs in Palestine therefore the only alternative is Emir Abdullah of Transjordan. Ideally Transjordan needs to be upgraded to a Kingdom of Jordan, cis- and trans-."
"What are your proposals, Bob?"
"First a one-state solution like Switzerland. One state with three names and the old-city of Jerusalem similar to the Vatican City in Rome. That'll probably get nowhere but it might buy time to come up with a partition plan. The Arabs definitely won't accept that but the Jews probably will. They'll see it as a stepping stone for controlling all of Palestine in the future."
"So we support a Jewish solution?"
"A Jewish and an Arab solution. The State of Israel and the Kingdom of Jordan. The Hashemites are a stable Arab group and pro-British. Greetings from Abdullah by the way. They are also conveniently near to Iraq, a problem child. The Palestine situation has priority. Do you concur with my troop proposals for the Middle East and MG Howard's appointment?"
"In principle, yes, but I want confer with the CIGS first. When will you be back?"
"During the week. I want to catch up with my other projects, especially the Merlin engine and the armoured divisions. Are we having a working-lunch at the Army and Navy Club on Friday? SOE only."
"Why not. Would you arrange it, please?"
"Of course."
"What do we tell the Prime Minister and Anthony Eden? Both Germany and Palestine have to be secret operations."
"We can go to 10 Downing Street tomorrow morning. Is 10 o'clock fine with you."
"Yes. I'll drive Sally to work so that we can check correspondence, etc. then I'll walk over to your office to have a chat with the CIGS."

"I'll arrange the meeting with the PM."
"Now we have an appointment at the hotel. You won't be disappointed, Winston."