Events keep developing at breakneck speed. Contrary to all expectations, Chamberlain had only one meeting with Hitler, on 16 September, and then decided on an immediate return to London. Yesterday, on the 17th, he landed in Croydon. What happened? Two possibilities: either Hitler demanded a price that even Chamberlain could not pay (i.e. the meeting in Berchtesgaden ended in failure), or Hitler made Chamberlain some proposals which the latter considers acceptable but does not wish to agree to at his own risk, so he has returned to consult the Cabinet (i.e. the meeting was a success from the PM’s point of view). Knowing Chamberlain, I favour the second hypothesis. This is confirmed by the fact that upon his return the PM immediately invited Daladier and Bonnet to come to London for an urgent conference. This conference began today.

Late in the evening, the first news arrived from London. Chamberlain has put forward a proposal at the meeting to cede to Germany the Sudetenland areas where the German population exceeded 50%, to provide guarantees for the rest of the Czechoslovak territory on the part of the four Western powers, and to establish a canton system in the spirit of Beneš’s ‘fourth plan’ for the Germans residing in Czechoslovakia. This is all quite probable. But will the French really swallow the pill? The meetings between the English and French ministers are still ongoing.

Kagan informs us that he has been visited, at Layton’s request, by a very worried Cummings. A member of the Cabinet told Layton that even if France came out to protect Czechoslovakia with arms in hand, the USSR would do nothing more than raise the question of German aggression in the League of Nations. Is this true? Kagan, of course, ridiculed and refuted this canard. But where has it flown in from?

Chamberlain received a Labour deputation, which kept insisting on a tripartite declaration by Britain, France and the USSR. The premier again rejected the proposal. Chamberlain complained about the difficulty of the situation, insufficient British armaments, the weakness of the French air force, and the unclear position of the USSR. Once again, suspicion of our intentions – where does this come from? At the same time, the PM revealed what Hitler said to him in Berchtesgaden: ‘I can crush Czechoslovakia in the space of one week.’ One thing is clear: Chamberlain is feverishly seeking justifications for his defeatist line and, of course, he finds them. But what do we have to do with it?

News has arrived from Rome that the British chargé d’affaires saw Ciano

Gian Galeazzo Ciano, Italian fascist chief of the press bureau, 1933; undersecretary of state for press and propaganda, 1934–35; Italian foreign minister and member of the fascist Supreme Council, 1936–43; Italian ambassador to the Vatican, 1943.

and, acting on behalf of the prime minister, conveyed the latter’s wish to bring the Anglo-Italian agreement into effect as soon as possible in view of the sharp deterioration in the general situation in Europe.

Yes, Chamberlain is demonstrating great activity.