[Enclosure]
Memorandum by the Naval Attaché in Belgium
(Gade)
[Brussels,] March 30, 1936.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mr. van Zeeland stated his belief that Parliamentary Government, not
only in France, but elsewhere, was proving so ineffectual in acting
rapidly in a national crisis that constitutional changes would
become imperative were Governments successfully to function.
One of the first and most difficult questions that would arise if the
present crisis is past and a future international working agreement
reached will unquestionably be the question of Germany’s former
colonies. Both the military party and politicians had all, with the
exception of Goebbels and Goering, advised against the re-occupation
of the Rhineland. Hitler felt however this must be done so as to
have a “fait accompli” prior to the elections. While Schacht had
many enemies, his brilliant wit coupled with the real confidence
Hitler has in him, enabled him to keep his position. Schacht was not
above seeing himself in Hitler’s place. Germany itself looks upon
Hitler as an apostle and his speeches intoxicate all classes, though
their theme be always one and the same, played in various tones. Had
Hitler been wise he would now have merely issued a statement that
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France had broken the
Treaty of Locarno and then awaited his time, say a year, to
re-occupy the Rhineland. He would then have had the sympathy and
understanding of most of Europe.
Hitler selected Mr. von Ribbentrop very wisely. He entirely
understands the English and was largely responsible for the
British-German Naval Agreement. He was naturally assisted by the
first German Foreign Office experts. Older German statesmen had
proved themselves incapable.
The Prime Minister stated that he was aware of the fact that Germany
had already exceeded her building limits according to her Naval
agreement with England, particularly in the quantities for small
fast craft built for her so-called “mosquito fleet”.
In England, Mr. van Zeeland was informed by leading English
politicians that three-fourths of the sympathy was with Germany
rather than with France. Only a few English like Winston
Churchill27 and similar die-hards still
stood up for backing the French contentions through thick and
thin.
In regard to the Staff conversations, Mr. van Zeeland stated that the
British Military Attaché had for two days been in touch with the
Chief of General Staff in Brussels, Major General van den Bergen,
and that conversations were being held today either in London or
Paris between the Belgian Military Attaché and the British Staff on
one hand and on the other, between the French and British Staff
Officers. While these could scarcely, however, be called Staff
conversations, they were arranging certain technical details and the
procedure to be followed. For Belgium this was a very preferable
course to Staff Officers of the three countries jointly consulting.
There is no question from what Mr. van Zeeland said that his
sympathies and points of view were decidedly sympathetic to the
British ones rather than to the French, and that he will support the
former in future negotiations.
Owing to the present situation, elections would shortly have to be
held in Belgium. The supporters of Degrelle (Rex)28 would some of them be elected and in drawing a few
members from the Catholic and Socialist ranks would still further
confuse the balance of power or coalition government. Decision as to
the exact date of the elections lay entirely in the King’s hands.
The Governments which today had elections behind them, similarly to
England and Germany, were unquestionably in a stronger position than
France and Belgium who still had them ahead of them.
