"The Prime Minister then told us the story of his visit to Bechtesgaden. Looking back upon what he said, the curious thing seems to me now to have been that he recounted his experiences with some satisfaction. Although he said that at first sight Hitler struck him as "the commonest dog" he had ever seen, without one sign of distinction, nevertheless he was obviously pleased at the reports he had subsequently received of the good impression that he himself had made. He told us with obvious satisfaction how Hitler had said to someone that he had felt that he, Chamberlain, was "a man." But the bare facts of the interview were frightful... After ranting and raving at him, Hitler had talked about self-determination and asked the Prime Minister whether he accepted the principle. The Prime Minister had replied that he must consult his colleagues. From the beginning to end Hitler had not shown the slightest sign of yielding on a single point. The Prime Minister seemed to expect us all to accept that principle without further discussion because time was getting on."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Prime Ministers of the United KingdomPoliticians from EnglandUnitariansPeople from BirminghamConservative Party (UK) politicians
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Duff Cooper, diary entry (17 September 1938), quoted in Duff Cooper, Old Men Forget (1953), pp. 229-230
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Neville_Chamberlain
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Related Quotes
"There are some people who do not desire to draw any conclusions at all. I see, for instance, the other day that the p…"
"I myself was not born a little Conservative. I was brought up as a Liberal, and afterwards as a Liberal Unionist. The…"
"I shall not give up the hope of a peaceful solution, or abandon my efforts for peace, as long as any chance for peace…"
"In common with my colleagues, I recognise that no single remedy can be a complete cure, but while I am ready to exami…"
"There can have been few occasions in all our long political history when to the son of a man who counted for somethin…"
"Of all countries passing through these difficult times the one that has stood the test with the greatest measure of s…"
"In 1932 many dark clouds still hung round the horizon. In 1933, although the outlook was distinctly brighter, there w…"
"The Labour Party, obviously intends to fasten upon our backs the accusation of being 'warmongers' and they are sugges…"
"There is no use for us to shut our eyes to realities. The fact remains that the policy of collective security based o…"
"Is it not apparent that the policy of sanctions involves, I do not say war, but a risk of war? Is it not apparent tha…"