Then we talked about the present state of Anglo-German relations. According to V., it could be defined as ‘running on the spot’. Neither Hitler’s speech on 30 January,

Hitler once again demanded equal rights for Germany and refuted Eden’s earlier statement in parliament that Germany was intent on isolating itself from the rest of the world, citing as an example the recently concluded anti-communist pact with Japan.

nor Ribbentrop’s recent talk with Halifax had changed a thing. Ninety per cent of that talk, which had lasted two hours, consisted of a monologue by Ribbentrop. Halifax merely made a few remarks and asked a few questions. Ribbentrop spoke on two issues: (1) regarding colonies, he demanded that all former German colonial possessions should be returned to Germany, and (2) regarding the French–Soviet pact, Ribbentrop argued, as ever, that this pact was the main obstacle to peace in Europe. Halifax, on his part, wanted to know when to expect Germany’s response to the British note of 18 November 1936 concerning Locarno. Ribbentrop’s answer was rather vague. Halifax then said that the satisfaction of Germany’s colonial claims presented great difficulties. That was all. Since the talk was no more than a general exchange of views, the British government did not find it necessary to make any reply to Ribbentrop on the issues he raised.

As to Runciman’s trip to the USA, V. noted that the current state of Anglo-American relations was very good, but he explicitly refuted the rumours circulating in Europe that Runciman was probing the possibility in America of granting a loan to Germany. According to V., the very assumption that such an issue could be raised at present is ‘laughable’. Is it? I’m not so sure.