HITLER'S DESIRE FOR WAR SIR, —In your article " What Can
Mr. Welles Achieve? " you wrote that Hitler neither expected nor desired war with France or " Britain " (I don't use that last word myself ever), and Sir J. Simon said the same in a recent broadcast.
This is not in accordance with the French Yellow Book, from which it appears that Hitler knew perfectly well that France and England would support Poland by war. I refer you to despatches 217 of August 24th, 1939, 221 of August 24th, 1939, 287 of August 29th, 1939, 291 of August 29th, 1939, 345 of September 1st, 1939 (to Ribbentrop).
Hitler does not seem the sort of person to risk war without having considered all its implications, and without being ready for them ; it seems to me, therefore, of the highest importance that the surprising misconception referred to should be cor- rected as publicly as made, because his readiness or otherwise for our attack has a very direct bearing on the kind and duration of war we have entered.—Yours faithfully,
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