10 NOVEMBER 1939, Page 6

So Field-Marshal Goering did not make his journey to Rome

after all. There seems little doubt that the journey was definitely intended. It is fully in keeping with Herr Hitler's recognised methods. If something goes wrong, send someone somewhere, or send for someone from somewhere. The Anglo-Franco-Turkish Treaty is signed at Ankara ; fetch back von Papen to explain why he couldn't stop it. M. Molotov makes a speech affirming Russia's resolute neutrality ; bring home the German Ambassador to say how this frustration of the hope of military support comes about. Italy removes all the chief pro-Axis Ministers from her Cabinet ; worse and worse ; not enough in this case to call back the Ambassador ; Goering must go and talk to Mussolini. It might be supposed that Herr Hitler was beginning to lose faith in the persuasive powers of his envoys. But of that there seems little evidence.

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