It was blind mouths such as these who misled the
German Government in 1914 and who exposed us to the accusation that by such private assurances we had inveigled Germany into an ambush which proved her destruction. No German really believes that prominent people in this country can visit Obersalzburg without first obtaining the approval of their Government. The most well-meaning and unofficial visit is thus interpreted by Nazi opinion as some surrep- titious mission ; the most vapid letters from Herr von Ribbentrop's London admirers are hailed as inspired mes- sages, indicating that our armament is little more than a sop to quieten the war-mongers and that the spirit of Munich still debilitates the inner councils of the realm.
* *