Fortunately for Göring a “thaw” suddenly set in.
From Göring’s vantage point as he scanned the Brown
Pages of the Forschungsamt intercepts, the ice could already be
heard cracking. First the French embassy, then the British, was
overheard that morning discussing fresh proposals they had
been instructed to offer Hitler. Even now there were some
among Hitler’s advisers who wanted events brought to a head.
Göring regarded the foreign minister Ribbentrop as their
leader, and he had given him a severe scolding already at Nur-
emberg on account of his belligerent posturing. The Brown
Pages were a distinct relief to Göring. At : .. Sir Nevile
Henderson telephoned him direct, complaining that his French
colleague François-Poncet was getting no reply to his request for
an audience with the Führer.
“Don’t say another word,” said Göring. “I’ll go right to
him.”
Hitler still agreed with Ribbentrop, however, and Göring
had to argue with him all that morning. Hitler called him an
“old woman.” While Göring and the former foreign minister
Neurath tried to apply the brakes, Ribbentrop’s foot had
jammed on the gas pedal.
At : .. three hours before Hitler’s ultimatum was
due to expire Mussolini telephoned his Berlin embassy: The
British had sent him a message, and he wanted time to consider
would Hitler prolong the ultimatum by twenty-four hours?
The Forschungsamt brought advance notice of this plea.
Ribbentrop pouted. Göring, acutely aware of the weakness of his
air force against Britain, accused him of actually wanting war.
Hitler silenced them both. “Nobody wants war!” he
snapped, perhaps the only clue he ever let slip that he was only
bluffing all along.
He rapidly abandoned Green. By lunchtime a Four-Power