Chapter 118 Chapter 20 "Unprecedented Disaster" (2)

Generally speaking, amateur diplomats are often only able to mess things up, but Dalerus managed to break the deadlock.At 9:00 p.m., when Henderson's plane landed at Berlin Airport, things had progressed considerably.The ambassador returned to Berlin with the official text of the proposals that Dalerus had unofficially submitted.There was one clause in the proposal: Baker had just agreed to formal discussions with Germany immediately. Due to the blackout, the streets of the capital were dark and pedestrians were sparse.These pedestrians reminded Henderson of ghosts.Ambassador Henderson has been worn out by the toil of the past few months.Not long ago, he had undergone a cancer resection, but it was found to be in an advanced stage.He never mentioned this to anyone, and he never complained about the heavy workload.

Henderson hastily had breakfast at the embassy, ​​but before the breakfast was finished, a message came from the Chancellery saying: Hitler wanted to see him immediately.Henderson drank half a bottle of champagne, cheered up, and drove on the road.In front of the Prime Minister's Office, many people were waiting quietly.They were silent and, as far as Henderson observed, not hostile. When Hitler had read the German text of the British note, there was no expression on his face—although, the note ended with the Führer's own masterpiece: A Mixture of Promises and Threats: The Problem Between Germany and Poland, If Solved Correctly, Otherwise, Britain and Germany may "come into conflict, and may throw the world into war. This ending will be an unprecedented disaster."

Hitler handed the note to Ribbentrop without comment.Schmidt was surprised by his calm response.Henderson's next move was even more surprising.He took the offensive and talked more than Hitler—for the first time in his life.Normally, his actions would have made the Führer roar like thunder; but at this time he was as steady as a mountain, and only occasionally looked at the dark garden outside-this is where his forerunner Bismarck often strolled. Meanwhile, Henderson declared that Britain meant what it said and that she had "never and will never live up to her word".In the past, Germany's promises had the same value.He quoted a sentence that Field Marshal von Bruck advised his subordinates when he supported Wellington at the Air Division Waterloo: "Go forward, my children, go forward; I have made a promise to Wellington, and you cannot rely on it." I will eat my own words." Hitler commented calmly that 125 years ago, things were a little different; he insisted that just when he was ready to resolve his differences with Poland on reasonable grounds, Poland continued to use violence against Germanic.The British seemed indifferent to such actions.

Perhaps the champagne was at work, and Henderson, taking the remark as a personal insult, replied vehemently that he had done everything in his power to stop the war and the bloodshed.Mr. Hitler, he said, had to choose between being friendly with Britain or making excessive demands on Poland.It's the battle and it's up to him to choose.Hitler remained calm, saying that this was not the correct picture of the situation.His choice was whether to protect the rights of the German people or abandon them at the cost of a treaty with Britain.While there were no other options, his responsibility was to protect the rights of the German people.

At the end of the conversation, Hitler reiterated his desire to conclude an agreement with Britain.This made Henderson a little optimistic.At the time of parting, Schmidt said something that made him quite happy: "You are quite remarkable." However, there is pessimism in the Chancellery.Engel wrote in his diary that the Führer was "very angry and bitter," telling his adjutants explicitly that he would not listen to the military on matters of war and peace. "He just didn't understand a German soldier who was afraid of war. If Frederick the Great had seen the generals of today, he wouldn't have been able to sleep under the nine fountains." All he needed was to cancel the unjust conditions of the Poles, not to Fight the Western Allies. "If they are stupid enough to go to war, it is their fault, and they will be wiped out."

In the Winter Garden, Hitler was scribbling an answer to the British.Feelings of frustration and anxiety intensify.At noon, the newspaper reported with eye-catching headlines that at least six German nationals were brutally killed in Poland.When the news came, the anxiety and frustration in the winter garden turned into panic.Regardless of whether the report in this section is true or false, Hitler believed it, and he was so angry about it.So when Henderson reappeared in the Chancellery that night, whether in the drawing room or in the corridors, there was the feeling that almost nothing but a miracle could have prevented the war.Ambassador Henderson was still looking for the best; for, as before, he wore a red carnation.The secret signal, known only to those in the know, is that they have hope.However, when he entered Hitler's study and got a copy of the German reply, he sensed that the attitude of the German side was more uncompromising than last night.With the Führer and Ribbentrop watching, he began to read the German note.The beginning of the note is very reasonable.Germany was prepared to accept British mediation, and Hitler would be pleased to receive a Polish negotiating envoy in Berlin.However, the latter sentence is totally unacceptable: the German government intends to invite "this representative to arrive on Wednesday, August 30, 1939".

"This sounds like an ultimatum," Henderson protested. "You have given Poland less than twenty-four hours to plan." The Führer, backed by Ribbentrop, impassionedly denied the attack. "Time is short," he explained, "and the reason is that there is still the danger of new provocations, which could trigger fighting." Henderson disagreed and could not accept the deadline.This is a replica of the harsh protocol of Bad Godesberg.Hitler argued that the General Staff was pressing him, "My army wants me to say 'yes' or 'no'".The army was ready for war, and the officers were complaining that the week had been wasted.If you wait another week, the rainy season may come.

However, Ambassador Henderson refused to give an inch and finally made Hitler angry.He retorted angrily: "Neither you, Henderson, nor the British government, are indifferent to how many Germans were massacred in Poland.Henderson retorted loudly that he did not listen to this language, whether it came from your mouth, Hitler or someone else's. The ambassador also seemed to lose his temper, but in his report he explained that it was only a trick; the time had finally come to deal with Herr Hitler in his own way.He looked straight at his opponent and shouted at Hitler, if you Hitler wants to fight, so be it!Britain is as determined as Germany at that point, and "can persist for a little longer than Germany".

The head of state is relatively magnanimous about Britain's new diplomatic steps.When the noise died down, the Führer said that he had always wanted British friendship, respected the British Empire, and liked the British.Yet despite Hitler's seemingly genuine admiration for the British, it was clear to Henderson that the two countries had reached an impasse.He left the chancellery "with the darkest premonitions in his heart".When he took his farewell, he told his German escort somberly that he probably would not wear carnations in Germany again. Later that night, Goering summoned Dalerus to his residence and revealed to him a secret: Hitler was working on a "magnanimous proposal" for Poland, including a plebiscite to rightly settle the "Corridor" in one fell swoop. "The problem.

This proposal will be handed over to the Poles the next morning.Goering tore out another page of the map and hastily delineated in green pencil the areas that would be resolved by referendum, and marked in red pencil the territory that Hitler believed should belong entirely to Poland. Göring ordered Dallerus to fly to London immediately, and once again emphasized to the British that Germany was determined to negotiate, and "secretly hinted" that Hitler would make a proposal to the Poles, because the proposal was very generous, and Poland would undoubtedly accept it . The next morning was a morning when Chamberlain needed to make up his mind again.At the top of the agenda was Hitler's invitation to the Poles.The prime minister's foreign minister thought that "it is unreasonable to think that we can have a Polish representative in Berlin today", and the Germans would never think that we would do the same.The prime minister's ambassador in Warsaw called to say that the chances of the Poles sending Beck or some other representative to Berlin immediately were slim. "They would rather fight early and perish than suffer this disgrace, especially after the lessons of Czechoslovakia, Lithuania and Austria."

Now that Chamberlain himself had made up his mind to confront Hitler without even asking the Poles if they were willing to submit, by the time Dalerus arrived at 10 Downing Street, negotiations seemed impossible.Chamberlain, Wilson, and Juddgan listened attentively to the Swede's speech, but responded to Hitler's "magnanimous proposal" by dismissing it as mere rhetoric, a game to gain time. "Why not give Goering a call and ask if the advice has been printed?" Dalerus suggested.Within minutes he was on the phone with the Reichsmarshal; he was assured that the note to Poland had not only been typed, but that its terms were even more generous than he had predicted. Dalerus was greatly encouraged, and with the help of the map drawn by Goering, he explained the proposed terms and tried his best to dispel the suspicion of the British.While these terms sounded reasonable, the British were still uneasy about Hitler's insistence that a Polish representative arrive in Berlin on the 30th.In addition to the time limit, Chamberlain and his colleagues also opposed the location-Berlin.See what happened to Father Tissot and Hacha! Darlerus called Goering again.This time, he suggested changing the venue of the negotiations to a place other than Berlin, preferably in a neutral country. "Nonsense!" replied Goering angrily. "Hitler's headquarters are in Berlin, and negotiations must take place there. Sending emissaries to Berlin, I see no difficulty for the Poles." Despite the setbacks, and their Despite their own deepening distrust, the British still left the door to peace open.They urged Dalerus to fly back to Berlin immediately and told Hitler that Britain was still willing to negotiate.Furthermore, to demonstrate their good standing, Halifax telegraphed Warsaw to warn the Poles not to shoot troublemakers among the Germanic minorities and to immediately stop seditious radio propaganda. Poland responded by ordering general mobilization.Hitler was furious that his Foreign Office had been sketching out a proposal for Poland all day—in terms so generous that even the impersonal interpreter Schmidt could hardly believe his eyes.In addition to the proposal to hold a referendum in the "corridor" under the supervision of an international committee, the Poles were given an international road and railway that would pass through the future territory of Germany. "That was really the League of Nations proposal," Schmidt recalled. "I felt like I was back in Geneva." Although the general mobilization of Poland made Hitler very angry, he still instructed Brauchitsch and Keitel to start the invasion of Poland. Extended 24 hours.This is the last extension, he said.Unless Warsaw accepts his demands, the offensive will begin at 4:30 am on 1 September.As it was getting dark, there was still no news from Warsaw, and the news from London was so vague: Britain was considering "urgently" Hitler's latest proposal and would reply later in the day.At the same time, they informed Colonel Baker to negotiate with Germany "without further delay."The demand is ironic after their own long delay.The British indecision may have been provoked (rather than caused) by the fact that a civil servant with close ties to the Army had disclosed many secrets to the British earlier in the day.His name was Ewald von Kleist-Schmenzin.He revealed many German military secrets to the British military attache, and said that Hitler's recent mental breakdown had caused the Army General Staff to take the opportunity to carry out a military coup. It was 10 o'clock in the evening when Henderson was finally allowed to deliver the answer to the Germans.He called Ribbentrop and suggested a late-night meeting.This happened to be the deadline for the Polish representative to arrive in Berlin.Ribbentrop felt that the British did this on purpose.The meeting was straightforward—because it would take time to decipher London's codes—but the atmosphere was unhealthy and full of suspicion.Henderson suggested that the Germans send their proposals back home through the Polish embassy through the normal channels.Ribbentrop jumped up. "After what's happened, it's absolutely impossible!" he shouted, stripped of the last pretense of self-control. "We demand that the Polish government send a representative of special powers to Berlin!" Henderson flushed with anger.But ahead of the meeting, London had warned him to remain calm.His hands trembled as he read the official British reply to Hitler's memorandum.Ribbentrop was furious, as if listening to him under duress.No doubt he knew exactly what the answer was, because the telephone calls of the British embassy, ​​especially those to London, were tapped by a German intelligence agency called the Institute.Although the tone of the note was conciliatory, the content was almost the same as what was said in the phone call the other day. "I have never heard of such a proposal!" Ribbentrop interjected when Henderson read that Britain had proposed no military action during the negotiations.He folded his hands hostilely and stared at Henderson. "Do you have anything else to say?" Perhaps he was taking revenge for Henderson's daring to talk back to the Führer yesterday.Henderson reacted to this rudeness by saying that His Majesty's Government had intelligence of German sabotage in Poland. This time, Ribbentrop was really on fire. "This is a fucking shameless lie spread by the Polish government!" he yelled. "All I can tell you, Mr. Henderson, is that the situation is extremely fucking serious!" Henderson half-stands, half-sitting, retaliation. "You were just saying 'fuck,'" he said, pointing at Ribbentrop like an angry schoolteacher. "That's not the right word for a politician to use in such a serious situation!" Ribbentrop felt as if a glass of cold water had been poured on his face.In an instant, he was a statue of shock and anger.To be reprimanded by a haughty Englishman!He jumped up, "What did you say?" Henderson also stood up.The two looked at each other like two fighting cocks. "According to the norms of diplomacy," Schmidt recalled, "I should also stand up, but frankly speaking, I didn't know what an interpreter should do when the two sides moved from talking to hands-at that time, I was afraid They really do." He was still sitting in his seat, pretending to be writing something in his notebook.When he heard the heavy breathing above his head, he was afraid that the German Foreign Minister would throw the ambassador of His Majesty's Government out the door, head and brain.As an interpreter, he had experienced and relished many bizarre occasions over the years, but one such occasion was extremely painful.He heard still rapid breathing to the left and right; but at last both, first Ribbentrop and then Henderson, sat down.Schmidt looked up cautiously.The sky has cleared and the storm has passed. The conversation continued for several minutes in relative calm.Ribbentrop took a piece of paper from his pocket.This was Hitler's proposal to Poland—the very one that surprised Schmidt.Ribbentrop read out sixteen points in German.Henderson didn't understand—he later complained—because Ribbentrop quickly "swiped through" the document.He wanted the text so he could send it back to England.This is completely normal diplomatic procedure, and Schmidt believes that Henderson does not need to speak at all.But what he heard next could hardly convince him. "No," Ribbentroth said calmly, with an unnatural smile on his face. He could not explain it, since the Führer had expressly forbidden him to release the document from his possession. Henderson couldn't believe his ears, and repeated his request.Ribbentrop refused again—this time emotionally, and slammed the document on the table. "Anyway, it's expired," he said. "The Polish envoy has not come yet." Watching nervously, Schmidt suddenly realized that this was a trick played by Hitler: he was afraid that if the British passed this proposal to the Poles, they might accept it.As a translator, if you post any comments, you will be decapitated.All he could do was look at Henderson, silently hoping that he would ask for an English translation.Ribbentrop could not refuse this kind of request, and Schmidt was determined to translate slowly so that Henderson could record it word by word. Draw a thick red line—his personal mark that the war is done. Thus, this intense meeting came to an end.According to Ribbentrop, Henderson was "pretty rude" during the meeting and he himself was "pretty calm."Although it was too late, the foreign minister immediately reported to the head of state at the prime minister's office, suggesting that Henderson be given a written proposal.The Führer refused.