Last Days Of Europe - A Diplomatic Journey In 1939 A Diplomatic Journey in 1939

LAST DAYS OF EUROPE A DIPLOMATIC JOURNEY IN 1939 BY GRIGORE GAFENCU FORMER RUMANIAN MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND AMBASSADOR TO RUSSIA TRANSLATED BY E. FLETCHER-ALLEN NEW HAVEN YALE UNIVERSITY PRESS 1948 COPYRIGHT, 1948, BY GRIGORE GAFENCU Printed in the United States of America All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, in any form except by reviewers for the public press, without written permission from the publishers. CONTENTS LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS vii PREFACE i INTRODUCTION 13 I. TRAIN JOURNEY WITH COLONEL BECK . .26 Recapitulation of German-Polish relations. Pact of Nonaggression of January 27, 1934. Colonel Becks principles. Hitlers assurances. The crisis January 21, 1939. The Polish leaders great illusion. Becks message to Hitler. II. HITLER PREPARES 54 Berlin on the eve of Hitlers anniversary. A look round with von Ribbentrop. Talk with Goring. Audience at the Imperial Chancellery. The Fiihrer ex pounds his policy. The military review of April 20, 1939. III. THE FEARS OF LEOPOLD III 85 The small countries after the Munich Agreement. Au dience with the King of the Belgians. Monarchs and the problem of security. IV. THE STRENGTH OF ENGLAND 95 Channel crossing. London the Court, the govern ment, public opinion. Mr. Winston Churchill over coffee and cigars. His moral and political opposition to National Socialism. His plans for a Great Coali tion speeches of May 9, 1938, October 5, 1938, and April 13, 1939. V. THE POLICY OF THE FOREIGN OFFICE . . . no The conversion of Mr. Neville Chamberlain. Ex change of views with Lord Halifax. England resists Hitler and assumes its responsibilities on the Conti nent. It gives guarantees, treats with Turkey, andbegins negotiations with the U. S. S. R. General com pulsory military service. vi Last Days of Europe VI. THE TROUBLE IN FRANCE 132 The internal crisis and its repercussions on foreign policy. The government. M. Daladier, and the peace policy of M. Georges Bonnet. Hitlers speech of April 28, 1939. The Franco-Anglo-Soviet negotiations. France and Italy. VII. ITALY SIGNS THE TACT OF STEEL . . . .156 A dinner at Villa Madama. Mussolini and Ciano. Po litical statement by the Duce, comments, by Ciano. Audience at the Quirinal. King Victor Emmanuels opposition. Visit to the Vatican. Pope Pius XII. Italy and France. VIII. RETURN JOURNEY 177 Stop in Belgrade. Prince Paul and his ministers. The prudence of the Regent of Yugoslavia. Arrival in Bucharest. Visit of M. Potemldn. The Assistant Com missar is optimistic. IX. BALKAN JOURNEY 190 Ankara Turkey, turntable of peaceful diplomacy. A ball at the Ankara Palace. Jalova Audience with Pres ident Ismet Inonu. Athens The ruins of the Acropo lis. An evening at Cape Sunion. The heroism of Gen eral Metaxas. EPILOGUE 201 APPENDICES 223 I. The Russo-German Negotiations . .223 II. The Silence of Potsdam. Two Principles in Conflict 226 III. Justice or Convenience 230 IV. The Way of Peace 234 INDEX 237 ILLUSTRATIONS Facing page IN RIBBENTROPS OFFICE 58 Standing below Lenbachs famous portrait of Bismarck, the Min ister invited me to make with him the usual survey of the situa tion. See page 8. IN THE FUHRERS APARTMENT 59 Sunk deep in the corner of his chair, as if he wanted to take up the least possible space, he prepared to defend the essential quali ties of his policy . . . which were, according to him, moderation and modesty. See page 72. DINNER AT THERUMANIAN LEGATION, LONDON 108 Lord Halifax and Grigore Gafencu. See page 7. Courtesy of E. O. Salomon. THE AUTHOR WITH MR. CHURCHILL, LORD VANSITTART, AND MR. ATTLEE 109 Mr. Churchill spoke of war and peace quietly, while smoking his cigar and taking his coffee. See page 109. Courtesy of E. O. Salomon. DEPARTURE FROM LONDON 130 The gentleman who stooped toward me ... was still impec cably dressed in civil clothes shining top hat, the perfectly tai lored overcoat, the magnificent umbrella. See page 131...