26 APRIL 1940, Page 13

I fear that if all these stories are believed too

readily we shall slide into that state of suspiciousness and gullibility which is the exact mood which the Germans wish to create. The mere fact that Herr Hitler confessed to Dr. Rauschning his predilection for parachute landings and little suicide- squads disguised in foreign uniforms need not tempt us to scrutinise the Changing of the Guard with undue suspicion or to jump to the conclusion that the Canadjan accent (one of the loveliest intonations in our language) is really Hoch- schule English. Even in Norway the parachutists have not been hitherto successful. I do not myself believe that a German platoon, disguised as Grenadier Guards, will one evening take over the protection of the Bank of England.