Open Writing

Time: March 1936.
Place: Prime Minister’s Office. Baldwin is consulting with his Foreign
Office Minister, Anthony Eden.

Baldwin: I must admit, Eden, I’m in a quandary. Do we let the new King see
confidential state papers, or do we keep him in the dark? What do you think?

Eden: I suggest, sir, we don’t let him have access to them at all. I have it on
good authority that His Majesty and the people he mixes with
are rather too close to Herr Hitler for comfort. It’s even been rumoured he
wants some sort of alliance with the Germans.

Baldwin: I’d heard a whisper along those lines, too, but dammit he’s King, and his
father was always kept up-to-date with what’s happening.

Eden: The late King was happily married and discreet.

Baldwin: That’s the rub, Eden. It always comes back to the Simpson woman. The
King is besotted with her, and that’s bad enough, but it’s her friendship with
the German ambassador, Ribbentrop, I fear most. I wouldn’t trust that
little toady no more than I can see him.

Eden: He’s the ears and eyes of Hitler over here and he’ll smooth his way into
any company to find out what’s going on, and I have it on good authority
he’s very well in with Mrs Simpson and her set.

Baldwin: The American ambassador finds her a great embarrassment, too, so what’s to
be done?

Eden: Best to play safe, sir, and show the King only harmless stuff. We can’t
risk state secrets, especially those concerning the armed forces, being leaked
to Hitler.

Baldwin: The Americans were livid when they discovered their military codes
had found their way to Italy and were being used by the Italians
in Abysinnia. And if Mussolini had them you can bet they’ve found their
way to Hitler. He and Mussolini are working hand in glove.

Eden: I’m bringing up the fact that the Italians used mustard gas against
the Abyssinians at the next session of the League of Nations.
They’re violating the Geneva Convention left right and centre and, I suspect,
so are the Germans in their concentration camps.

Baldwin: The Fascists will stop at nothing to gain their own ends. Now that he’s
taken the Rhineland, Hitler’s blandly proposing a new peace treaty, but he’s
kidding no one. He’s re-arming Germany like mad now he’s got his hands
on the industrial Ruhr. He’s simply playing for time before he lights the
fuse to a new war in Europe, and if we’re not careful the whole thing
will blow up in our faces.

Eden: Herr Hitler certainly calls the tunes now in Germany. His own
High Command were against any occupation of the Ruhr, but he’s pushed
it through against his commanders.’
wishes.

Baldwin: And the French simply caved in without a murmur. With Laval as
Premier, the French are working right alongside Hitler and Mussolini.
Eden: The tide of Fascism is drawing ever closer, sir. One might say it’s lapping
at our very shores with Mosley and his crew strutting the streets. It’s a
pity the League of Nations hasn’t more clout. It backs off every time
its authority is flouted and the Nazis realise it. They’re getting away
with murder – literally.

Baldwin: And now the King is sticking his oar in and compromising all we’re
doing. He openly criticised the Government when he visited the
Welsh coalfields. Dammit! We’re doing our best and he’s hindering
all our efforts to sort out this recession. Worse still, he’s singing the praises
of Herr Hitler to all and sundry. His father was right. We have a serious
problem on our hands, Eden, with the new King – and I don’t really
know how to solve it.

Eden: I’ve heard he’s planning to go on a cruise this autumn with Mrs Simpson.
Baldwin: Good heavens! The gutter press will have a field day! I only hope
he doesn’t return saying he’s going to marry her. We’ve enough crises on
our hands.

Eden: What’ll happen if he does, sir?

Baldwin: We’ll face that when it happens. You know, Eden, the King’s
father always hoped that Edward’s brother, Prince Albert, would one
day come to the throne – and that may well happen yet. No government
will countenance a woman like Mrs Simpson being Queen. He
couldn’t have made a worse choice of a woman to play around with –
but then he never did have much taste where women were concerned,
did he?

Eden: [Smiling ironically] Like grandfather, like grandson.

Baldwin: Just so, only his grandfather toed the line when he came to the throne
and worked with his ministers, not against them. Anyhow, to change
the subject to more pleasant things, I’ve backed the favourite to win the
Grand National. What’s your money on?

Eden: I haven’t made my bet yet, sir. But I’ve booked my seat for the
Cup Final.

Baldwin: You know, Eden, only when we lose our interest in sport is the
country really done for!

Curtain