Later that day, at Henderson’s request, Göring received the
cringing, frightened Czech minister, Vojtech Mastny, in Berlin:
Mastny, October . Very downcast. Says he was not
listened to... that Bene [was] completely besotted
with the League of Nations, et cetera. A rude awak-
ening for the Tschechei to realization that everything
possible must be tried to set things right and agree
[on] a common policy with us. Bene will resign...
[Dr. Emil] Hácha, who was always in favor of a com-
promise with us, is the coming man....On the seventh and eighth, Göring toured the “captured”
Czech frontier fortifications. He had no military interest in the
rest of the country (Tschechei), and tried to persuade Hitler that
its economy was so dependent now on Germany’s that it would
fall into their hands like a ripe fruit. Prague recognized this
harsh truth and sent its envoy Mastny back to assure Göring
that they would follow Hitler’s policies slavishly at home and
abroad. In particular, they promised, they would “seriously
tackle the Jewish problem.” Göring once again scrawled a
lengthy note in his diary:
Minister Mastny, October . [Offers] most emphatic
assurance that the new Tschechei will realign her for-
eign policies; closest friendship with Germany. Assur-
ance that internally the coming regime will lean to the
extreme right. Liquidation of communism. Fate and
life of Tschechei are in Germany’s hands. He pleads
that the country not be reduced to penury... Nation
realizes that a -degree about-face is necessary. It is
only possible, however, with Germany’s help.Göring was in the dark as to Hitler’s next moves. It is plain that
he did not expect a general war until at the earliest. Mean-