CHAPTER THREE
Let the Game Begin
As in all things, while his younger brother was busy revitalizing Britain’s industry and military, His Majesty, King Edward VIII, was not in a vacuum. Determined to do as much as possible diplomatically to prevent war, His Majesty directed Foreign Secretary Eden and the Foreign office to create as many ties with as many European nations in an attempt to hold off any war by virtue of there being a clear majority of powers on one side against any belligerent nation. Shortly after the death of his father, George V, His Majesty was able to sign into effect a series of non-aggression pacts with the Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland, thereby reviving centuries old ties between Scandinavia and the British Isles.
The unwritten understanding, of course, was to do what was possible to fence in a resurgent Germany while at the same time creating a bulwark against the Communist threat of the Soviet Union. Eager to capitalize upon these agreements, Secretary Eden doubled the Foreign Office’s efforts to bring Scandinavia closer to the British Empire’s camp, sending out several teams of diplomats and arranging for discussions between members of the Imperial General Staff and the military staffs of the Scandinavia countries.
Excerpt from, The Inter-War History of the House of Windsor
By D.A. Radcliffe, Prof. Of History, Oxford University, 1968
German armoured units moving into the Rhineland.
On March 7, 1936, the world awoke to the startling news that Hitler had ordered the German Wehrmacht into the Rhineland in direct violation of the Treaty of Versailles. In London, due to the hard work of the Foreign Office’s Robert G. Vansittart and officers of SIS’s Section VII and Section N, the King and the Privy Council were well aware of the German move, and the morning of the seventh found the His Majesty, HRH Prince Albert, their respective aides, and the Privy Council meeting at Windsor Castle to determine the British Empire’s reaction and response.
Windsor Castle's Royal Apartments
“M’lords,” the King began once everyone returned to their seats following his arrival,
“we all have had several hours to think this through and would like the Privy Council’s thoughts. I’ll start with you, Winston.”
“Your Majesty,” Churchill answered after a polite bow of his head,
“yourself and His Highness the Prince as well as all the members of the Council know, Germany’s march back into the Rhineland is a major violation of Versailles. I firmly believe that if we allow Hitler to carry this action out with impunity, it will only make him greedy to cast his eyes about the rest of Europe for something else to covet. I say we respond in the strongest way by countering his march by sending in British troops.”
“Your Majesty, I must most vehemently disagree,” Chamberlain cried out almost before Churchill finished speaking.
“Such an action would most likely lead to war. Rather than acting hastily with force, which the Crown cannot currently afford due to the funds being diverted from the Exchequer for His Highness’ industrialization program and the War Ministries modernization of the Services, allow the Foreign Office to open a dialogue with Herr Hitler to negotiate an equitable solution to this situation.
“This would allow the Crown,” he continued smugly with a sly glance toward Prince Albert and the Prime Minister,
“to avoid a war, for which any sane person would wish, but would increase the Empire’s prestige in the world for playing the role of peace keeper rather than belligerent aggressor.”
In the moment that followed Chamberlain’s advice, a cold tension instantly sprang upon the room, causing several of the Council’s members to shift uncomfortably. Raising his hand to silence his brother’s angry retort before it could be aired, the King spoke in cold politeness using the royal plural.
“We thank you for your advice, Chancellor Chamberlain, but would remind you that insulting our royal brother’s programs which we fully support, is most rude and amuses us none.” Turning to look at War Secretary Cooper, King Edward continued more warmly.
“Duff, what say Philip, Bolton and yourself about Britain’s response?”
With a heavy sigh and a bleak look in his eye, Cooper replied,
“I spoke with Sir Archibald earlier this morning, Your Majesty, and from the Imperial General Staff’s view, there is no way the British Army can do anything quick enough to be of any deterrent. We only have the Grenadier Guards, the Duke of York’s Grenadiers, the Black Watch and the Royal Fusiliers here it the British Isles and they are not of sufficient strength to counter what the Germans have marching into the Rhineland. Of the rest of the British Army, by the time they arrived, it would be all over except for the burial details clean up. As for what the Royal Navy and RAF could do, I’m not sure.”
Lord Swinton, spoke in response to the King’s glance and raised eyebrow.
“Your Majesty, the RAF can have Bomber Command begin air attacks at your word, however, it is doubtful that the three squadrons of A.W.38 Whitley’s would have prove to be anything more than a hindrance the Wehrmacht and possibly target practice for the Luftwaffe.”
“The Royal Navy, Your Majesty knows,” said First Lord of the Admiralty Eyres-Monsell,
“is ready to sortie out from Scapa Flow, Portsmouth and Plymouth and be in the North Sea and the Channel within three hours of your command. First Sea Lord Chatfield does want it cautioned that while the Fleet can be at sea and ready for action quickly, there is very little it can do unless full-scale war is required.”
Turning to Anthony Eden, the King asked somberly,
“Anthony, what does the Foreign Office recommend?”
“I have been in contact with my counterparts in Paris, Brussels, The Hague, and Luxembourg, Your Majesty,” Eden replied in a weary tone that belied his dapper appearance.
“While I will not bore yourself nor the rest of the council with the chaotic details of each of those countries initial reports, I will state that while all of them are outraged to a certain degree, none of them are even remotely considering an armed response.”
“A very intelligent response, I must say,” Chamberlain said softly, yet not softly enough to not be overheard by the others in attendance. Pointedly ignoring the Chancellor of the Exchequer who was only beginning to realize the danger he was courting, the King gestured for Eden to continue.
“That being said, Your Majesty, Paris is already making motions to complain to the League of Nations, and Brussels is following suit closely. That may be the only option Britain has as well.”
King Edward turned next to his Lord Chancellor and Lord of the Privy Seal.
“Douglas, Edward? Your thoughts”
“Your Majesty,” Lord Hailsham sighed,
“it is very apparent that there is not much we can do.”
“I feel that this is being made a bigger issue that it need to be Your Majesty,” Lord Halifax answered.
“The re-occupation is, of course, a violation of the Treaty, however, all of us in this room have more than once complained about the harshness of it. I say we issue a mild protest at the way Herr Hitler went about his business and do nothing more.”
Looking to his right at his younger brother, the King asked,
“Well, Albert, do you have any ideas?”
Shooting a dangerous glare at Chamberlain that caused it’s recipient a sudden chilled shudder, Prince Albert laced his fingers before him and exhaled slowly.
“Your Majesty, brother, you and I both feel that the League of Nations is not worth the buildings that it occupies, so complaining to the League is going to stop Hitler from going into the Rhineland as much as it stopped Mussolini from going after Ethiopia and Haile Selassie, so complainig to the League is a waste of the Foreign Office’s time. Going in militarily with in sufficent forces would be a waste of men and material as we truly do not have the forces to do the thing properly. I agree with Winston that to do nothing is the most dangerous thing of any of the options presented.”
"Thank you for the summation, little brother,” the King interruppted in kind sarcasm,
“but what is your suggestion?”
With a glint in his eye and a wolfish grin appearing on his face, Prince Albert replied,
“I suggest we do the one thing Herr Hitler and the rest of the world would not expect the British Empire to do. We react in no public way, other than to began increase the pace of our moderization and publically began increasing the size of the three Services. And before you ask where the funds will come from, Chancellor Chamberlain, the funds will come from the savings awarded for the disbanding of the Home Guard and the increase in funds on our trade deals with the Dominions.”
Leaning back and rubbing his chin with one hand and holding up his other to silence a sputtering Chamberlain, King Edward looked thoughtful for several seconds. Looking silently from face to face of his Privy Council, the King read agreement with his brother’s plan from the Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary, War and Air Ministries, the First Lord of the Admiralty, outraged disagreement from his Chancellor of the Exchequer and disagreement from his Lord of the Privy Seal and a blank noncommittal look from the Lord Chancellor. Sitting forward again briskly, he made his decision.
“Albert, I like your idea, but I am going to modify it a tad. Anthony, have the Foreign Office issue a statement to the press that the Crown has no opinion on the matter. Philip, Duff, I want the Air and War Ministries to announce plans to expand the RAF and Army. Bolton, have First Sea Lord Chatfield announce the awarding of those contracts for the destroyers have been rewarded forthwith. Let us see how Herr Hitler and the rest of the world responds to that. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a breakfast gathering to attend. Good morning, gentlemen.”