The Separation (46 page)

[Meeting commences]:
I have read your paper and commend you for it. It is an ingenious work of great historical interest. Will enter annals of magnanimous achievements. Undoubted skill and diplomacy. Great congratulations. However, it is unacceptable in theory as well as in practice. It will not hold. I will have none of it. The War Cabinet will have none of it. The Br. people will have none of it. We have no intention of making a deal with Germany.

Dr Burckhardt:
It is not a deal with Germany, but a restitution of peace and order in Europe. Not one-sided. A separation of Britain and Germany from the state of war. Our best information is that Hitler himself is probably behind it.

H.M. Ambassador - Spain:
The former king has endorsed it.

P.M.:
The endorsement of our former king is not relevant to affairs of state. That is not to be discussed today. Where have I seen you before?

J. L. Sawyer:
I don’t know.

P.M.:
Why aren’t you wearing your RAF uniform?

J. L. Sawyer:
I am not a member of the armed forces. I am an unconditionally registered conscientious objector.

P.M.:
I can’t talk to Hitler. He won’t talk to me. We cannot pursue that line of approach. It would bring Japan into the war and keep the USA permanently out. Stalin will have none of it. The USA will have none of it. The Polish, Free French and Commonwealth powers will have none of it.
C.O.S.:
Intelligence reports from Poland confirm German troop concentrations are continuing to build up on Soviet border.

For. Sec:
Stalin has been informed about German build-up but he is suspicious of our motives.
C.O.S.:
We can’t stop Hitler if he moves eastwards. We should not even try.
P.M.:
[Sums up Br. approaches to Soviet Union on this.]

[Continues]:
Hitler always said he never wanted a war on two fronts. If he is about to start something in Russia, nothing could be more to our advantage. Gentlemen, thank you again for your magnificent contribution to the cause of peace, but H.M. Gov’t has no position to make to or defend against Hitler. We are at war and shall see it through. That is the final word on the matter. Good day to you all.
P.M. indicates the meeting has ended.

Dr Burckhardt:
[Appeals for further discussion.]

[Continues]:
We have a genuine opportunity for peace with prospects for stability within Europe thereafter. The war could end this month. Neither side would make concessions to the other. A ceasefire and withdrawal. Britain’s pre-war position apropos Europe restored. Commonwealth secured. Sovereignty of France restored.

P.M.:
What about Poland? We went to war in her cause.

Dr Burckhardt:
Poland is unsolved problem for time being. The Red Cross is proposing that German withdrawal be in two phases. In the first, the occupied countries of Western Europe will be relieved. In the second, the occupied territories of Middle and Eastern Europe, including Poland, will be up for discussion. We are proposing a second round of negotiations after the first phase has been concluded successfully.

P.M.:
H.M. Gov’t has nothing we wish to offer in negotiation for that or any other cause.
Dr Burckhardt:
Our preliminary contacts suggest that German Gov’t see this differently. They want a free hand in the East above all other priorities.

P.M.:
We are not interested in helping Germany have what they want.
For. Sec.
: Vital British interests at stake. Empire at risk in Far East. India under threat if Japan enters war. Suez Canal in jeopardy. Still only a remote possibility of involvement by U.S. Gov’t in European war. There are serious and growing concerns about persecution of minorities in Germany and occupied territories. Continuation of war is inevitable.

P.M.:
We have intelligence reports concerning Hitler’s intentions in Eastern Europe. This is to our total advantage. No further action is necessary. The meeting may stand down. Thanks to all present for time and attention to a matter of such importance.

P.M. again indicates the meeting has ended.

For. Sec:
[Requests permission to seek information. PM. concurs.]

[Continues]:
Could we first hear summary of German peace proposals?

P.M.:
Summary only. I do not have time for details to be minuted.
Dr Burckhardt:
[Summarizes conditions under which negotiations took place. Describes
members of negotiating teams of both sides. Describes role played by Mr Sawyer.]

[Continues]:
It is necessary to address the most important detailed proposal first. A sensitive matter, but declared non-negotiable by the German Gov’t. Present speaker has the unwelcome duty of presenting this matter frankly. They propose that the present Prime Minister of UK stand down.
P.M.:
[Summarizes his negative reaction at some length and in candid language.]

[Continues]:
What is the second most important proposal?

Dr Burckhardt:
The abdication of the present king in favour of the restoration of Edward VIII.
P.M. proposes adjournment to the meeting. All parties retire and convene in separate adjacent
rooms. P.M. requests Privy Councillors to accompany him.

Meeting resumes at 11.57 a.m.

P.M.:
[Declares he has consulted attending members of Privy Council.]

[Continues]:
A loyal subject of the present king. Summarizes great bravery of present king and queen in face of the Blitz. Pays tribute to their morale-raising activities during bombing. Describes immense and abiding affection held by Br. people for present king and queen. Parliament is sovereign and the present constitutional arrangement cannot be altered by P.M. Abdication of present king in favour of restoration to be non-negotiable. Constitutional hazards await. That is the end of it.
For.Sec:
Could we hear the remaining proposals from German Gov’t?

Dr Burckhardt:
Immediate cessation of hostilities by both sides, including naval and air actions. Return of prisoners. Exchange of diplomats. Treaty of Versailles to be set aside. No reparations to be paid by either side. Release of currency and gold reserves. Art treasures to be restored to pre-war holders. Phased German withdrawal from Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Channel Islands, Yugoslavia and Greece. Withdrawal to commence immediately. All to be completed by end of August 1941.

UK to assume responsibility for the Jewish question (to be funded by uncontested UK access to oilfields of Middle East, including but not confined to Iraq, and Persia).

Germany to be given free hand in Eastern Europe. State of benevolent neutrality to exist between both countries thereafter.

[Lays documents before the meeting.]

P.M.:
I studied your proposals in advance of today’s meeting. Your deal presupposes Bolshevism to be a greater threat to Europe than Nazism and that Hitler is our best guarantor against it. UK Gov’t might accept that. US Gov’t would certainly accept that. Stalin would not accept it at all. Furthermore, what responsibility for the Jews are we supposed to assume? I’m not prepared to move them all to Palestine.

Dr Burckhardt:
The Madagascar Plan is already in place.

[Outlines plan]:
UK Gov’t to move all European Jewry to Madagascar. Germany to assist but not to participate in or benefit by removal. No time limit to the process, but five years expected to see the process complete. UK to supervise the transfer of present Madagascan territory to independent nationhood under British Mandate, with first devolved administration before end of 1948, full independence before end of 1950.

P.M.:
What arrangements are proposed for the present Malagasy inhabitants?

Dr Burckhardt:
The island is under-populated at present. Poverty, lack of modern facilities. We propose a referendum on their wishes after 1950.

P.M.:
The Malagasy are another people who will have none of it.
For. Sec:
When and where is your next meeting to take place?

Dr Burckhardt:
Next scheduled meeting three days from now. Suggested locations include Stavanger, Geneva, Lisbon, Stockholm and Scotland. We prefer Lisbon or Stockholm because difficulties exist for the other sites. Scotland ruled out as it is on combatant territory.

For. Sec:
Who suggested Scotland?

Dr Burckhardt:
German Gov’t.

P.M.:
Did Hitler want to fly to Scotland?

Dr Burckhardt:
It was proposed by his deputy, Herr Hess.

P.M.:
I have no intention of going to Scotland, Norway or Sweden. Or anywhere else.
Dr Burckhardt:
[Offers sincere compliments and courtesies to P.M.]

[Continues]:
The Prime Minister of UK is not invited to the talks.
P.M.:
[Makes forthright response at length, then requests his response not be minuted.]

[Continues]:
We must adjourn for consultations. Meeting adjourns. Parties reconvene elsewhere. Privy Councillors with P.M. Meeting resumes at 12.43 p.m.

P.M.:
An emergency meeting of the War Cabinet will be called this afternoon. If it is the wish of the War Cabinet that these exploratory talks be pursued then I shall issue my authority for the Red Cross to negotiate in good faith. The vital interests of the UK shall be represented by His Excellency the British Ambassador to Spain (Sir Samuel Hoare), accompanied by officials from the Foreign Office. Everything ultimately dependent on the approval of Parliament.

Dr Burckhardt:
Correction: they are not exploratory-talks. Those were concluded last month. The next talks are intended to draw up and sign the first-phase armistice documents.
P.M.:
I knew nothing of the earlier talks and would not have acquiesced in them if I had. The British Gov’t’s policy is unconditional warfare against Germany in pursuit of military victory. I see nothing in your negotiations to release us from that duty.

Dr Burckhardt:
The Red Cross believes peace is not only possible but imperative. The German wish for a ceasefire will not remain open for long. This is an historical opportunity which should be seized by UK.

P.M.:
History is made by brave and imaginative decisions, not by tactical surrenders. I will not accept anything from your proposal. History this time demands we deal effectively with Hitler.
J. L. Sawyer:
On the contrary, history shows that war always defeats its own object. No war in recorded history has produced a result that is in accordance with the stated aims of the victor. This is because stated aims are either disingenuous, or if sincerely meant they are undermined by the violence inherent in war.

Democracies say they fight wars with the stated intention of righting wrongs or of establishing peaceful relationships between peoples, but in reality their motives are the protection of vested interests, financial investment and the pursuit of political power. Wars are fought by tyrants ostensibly to settle a dispute or to recapture lost territory, but in practice they wish to maintain illegal control over their own people. History also shows that whatever the apparent military outcome, violence opposed by violence always sows the seeds of future violence. It is the violence itself that distorts the result. The present war against Germany, if fought to a conclusion, might well produce the conquest of one side or the other by military means, but in the longer term the state of war will inevitably destroy many of the qualities said to be at issue.

Destruction of UK would set back the cause of enlightenment, social justice, political tolerance and liberalism by many decades. Destruction of Germany would lead to the dominance of Bolshevism throughout a large part of Europe, with the consequence that there would be greater intervention in European affairs by the USA.

Peace grasped at this moment offers the only hope for stability and harmony in the world.
Dr Burckhardt:
[Requests that these minutes record Mr Sawyer’s contribution verbatim.
Note-taker records them, as above. Mr Sawyer agrees and initials the wording.]
JLS.
P.M.:
[Thanks Mr Sawyer for his valuable insight.]

[Continues]:
I am forced to consider the well-being of the country as a whole. H.M. Ambassador to Spain will negotiate and protect our interests. Officials will be in attendance. Only the Prime Minister may sign an armistice on behalf of the sovereign. Sir Samuel Hoare can bring it back and if appropriate I will sign it here.

P.M./Dr Burckhardt:
[Frank, prolonged and disputatious exchange of views. With the
concurrence of all present, notes of this exchange have been removed from the minutes.]

Dr Burckhardt:
[Summary of his position]:
The armistice accord is to be signed in the presence of all parties.

P.M.:
[Summary of his position]:
If it is to be signed it will be signed by me in London.
Dr Burckhardt:
I wish these minutes to record my protest, but in the interests of peace I shall endeavour to ensure that the Prime Minister’s wish is observed.

P.M.:
I also reserve the right not to sign it at all.

Prime Minister leaves meeting at 1.41 p.m. Others attend briefly to details. Meeting
concludes at 1.45 p.m.

21

Document from Bibliothekfiir Zeitgeschichte, Stuttgart - Burckhardt Archiv

(vovovo.biblio_zeit.stuttgart.de/burckhardt)

Dr C. Burckhardt, International Red Cross Society, Geneva

May 9, 1941

(delivered by hand to Suite Boudicca, Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane, London W.)
My dear friend Carl,

[J. L. Sawyer
-
private and confidential]

At your personal request, and with the full cooperation of Mr Sawyer, I have made an enquiry into Mr Sawyer’s psychological outlook, which he says has been causing him great concern. You no doubt recognize that in view of the extremely short notice with which the consultation was arranged, I had no access to Mr Sawyer’s medical or psychological records, nor did he come to me after a medical referral. Any examination under such conditions can only be informal. In view of my long relationship with you, both personal and professional, enjoyed for many years, I know that you will view this letter and the opinions it contains as a personal communication. I understand that Mr Sawyer approached you for help with the same problems, so I can spare you much background detail.