12 Jan 1936 - Château de Laeken, Belgium

[Diarist]

Before retiring last night I did have a short conversation with the PM and DM Colijn. He doesn't agree that Holland's neutrality is threatened. I told him to look at a map.
"If Germany wants to invade France they have to move north of the Maginot Line and go through Belgium again. But there is the Ardennes Forest almost all the way north to Liege. Liege is only 10 km south of the Dutch border. A Panzer Division requires at least a 10 km wide front and Hitler won't attack with just one division. A Corps requires 50 km, two Corps 100 km. Are you getting the message, Sir? Any German Panzer officer will tell Hitler that they need go through the Netherlands and your fate is sealed. The only way to protect your country is to stop Hitler and that's why we are here this weekend. Good night, Sir."
We had been talking French a lot of the time so I had to fill in a few gaps for Sally. She agreed that we were making progress, even hoping that Hitler would hurry up and make the fatal mistake of calling our bluff. She's really looking forward to a Germany without Hitler. I can't blame her. She asked if I would consider a position in Germany if this confederation were accepted. That got me thinking. I told her that I already have an important job in the MoD then in 1937 there is the Imperial College in London. I didn't really answer her question.
At breakfast we joined Edward. Apparently I've made a good impression on the Queen. "Good because she is the one wearing the trousers in Holland. Does anyone know what's planned where?"
"10 o'clock in the same room as yesterday evening," Edward answered. "She was asking all kinds of questions about you."
"Did you tell her that I'm married?"
"Be serious for a moment, Bob."
"OK. What did you tell her?"
"The truth. I've known you less than one year so I don't know anything about the time before we met."
"There's nothing worth talking about, Edward. Honest."
John Gort joined us and informed me that Queen Wilhelmina would appreciate a conversation with me prior to this morning's conference.
"Where?" I asked and he gave me a slip of paper. "I'll find it. Until later, darling."
I was invited into a small dining room and was offered breakfast which I declined except for some orange juice.
"Sir Robert, you are confident that Hitler will be removed. Why is that?" That's how she opened after a short 'good morning'.
"Your Majesty, I believe he will be removed only if he makes the mistake of trying to remilitarize the Rhineland AND we oppose his move. He has failed twice attempting to annex Austria causing Germany considerable embarrassment. The Rhineland is a much greater gamble. A treaty must be broken which is not the Versailles Treaty. We MUST oppose the move because Hitler does not have the army to force the issue. He would be calling our bluff and fail. Hitler is only tolerated by the German Officer Corps as long as he is useful to them. A blunder on this scale will not be tolerated. He will have to go." I drank some more orange juice.
"Then there is Hitler's urgent need for a success story. Despite being very risky the Rhineland is the easiest option Hitler has available. A third Austrian attempt is out of the question so are gaining control of the Sudetenland or forcing the Danzig Corridor. We must challenge Hitler because with a Rhineland success under his belt nobody in Germany would dare challenge him and he wouldn't need to risk anymore foreign exploits for a couple of years. We now have to sit back and wait."
"When could we expect a move?"
"We simply don't know, Your Majesty. A move before the Olympic Games would be foolish but dictators don't show normal human behaviour. I have no idea and that's why we must remain vigilant. Every day we wait must be used to increase our readiness."
"I thank you for your conversation, Sir Robert. You have been very helpful."
With that I had been dismissed.

[Diarist]

The meeting began where we finished yesterday evening. More questions about the military option than about the confederation. They were informed that both Britain and France have detailed invasion plans but we stressed that an invasion is the very last option. Both Belgian and Holland have been invited to join our peace and war initiatives because we have quite naturally presumed they would want to contribute to the defence of their nations. Generals Winkelmann and van Overstraeten have plans outlining how their nations' forces can support our operations.
The discussion about a joint defence programme was very hypothetical at times but it gave us an opportunity to talk about things less gloomy than war.
"The proposal to have multi-national corps is just that. A proposal. Mutual Defence and Non-Aggression requires integration. There is no reason why the Dutch 7th Infantry Division can't be assigned to the German X Infantry Corps in Oldenburg while a German Division be transferred to Groningen to be assigned to the Dutch Corps. I personally would have no objection to German and French Divisions being stationed in Britain. We would learn from each other and not just soldiering. There would also be social contacts and cultural exchanges. I've become friends with several German officers who have visited TRADOC in the past 9 months. Last month I visited them when I was in Germany.
We would also need to standardize equipment so that infantry weapons can at least fire the same ammunition. In Britain we are currently going through a phase of modernization. That probably applies to all nations. If we are all upgrading then it is an excellent opportunity to achieve a measure of interoperability. The Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft I've been promoting is a fine example."
General Gamelin remarked that Britain appears to be in high gear at the moment.
"We are. That is part of my job. Getting the most out of the limited resources we have. Not just in the procurement of new equipment but also in the development of this new equipment. Useless designs are cancelled. Ask yourself a simple question. Should we all trot along at the pace of the slowest partner or should the slower be helped to get in to the fast lane? We are also using our military consolidation to expand our economy. All nations could do that. It's not copyrighted."
General Winkelmann stated that he was very impressed by the UK Ministry of Defence and praised us sharing their knowledge with allies and potential allies. I was beginning to blush. "The alliance between Britain and France is exemplary. Holland and Belgium can only benefit if our nations join the alliance."
John Gort had to clarify that. "There is no formal alliance between our two nations. Nothing in writing. We have an understanding, we have common goals and are striving to achieve those goals together. Formal alliances tend to anger others. They also dragged nation after nation into the Great War. Most of all we have common values worth defending no matter what the cost against common enemies. I can imagine that Japan is not only a problem for us two. We need to work together in the Far East too, Your Majesty. Our Foreign Secretaries will be visiting the Far East soon. The Dutch Foreign Secretary is welcome to join them."
"We accept the offer with gratitude."
The conference was coming to an end. We have achieved what we came here for. I'd even argue that we have more than we hoped for. Time to fly back to London this afternoon. Mission accomplished. On the way out I couldn't resist congratulating Queen Wilhelmina. "Welcome out of neutrality, Your Majesty." She smiled back.