Quotations – Hitler not a danger
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“At the moment of writing the most probable outcome of a very doubtful situation in Germany seems to be that Herr Hitler will become nominal Chancellor, with the real power in the hands of Von Papen.”
“Hitler appears to be clearly limited in his powers, and when it is added that Baron von Neurath, that imperturbable diplomat of the old school remains at the Foreign Office and the able, conventional Count Schwerin von Krosigk in the Ministry of Finance, President von Hindenburg and his advisers must certainly be congratulating themselves on the completion of a task which has been the despair of many good men for three years – a task of committing Hitler to responsibility without giving him play for dangerous experiments.”
“There is, in short, little chance of Herr Hitler and his Nazi lieutenants breaking through the bonds of responsibility with which they have been tied by the Ministerial nominees of President Hidenburg.”
“Baron von Neurath not only remains in the Cabinet but also holds his old post as Foreign Secretary… there may not be very much change in German foreign policy after all.”
“The advent of Herr Hitler to the German chancellorship has caused little perturbation in diplomatic circles, for the Nazi leader is well shepherded by members of what is substantially a Conservative government… The general impression is that the Nazi leader, having been entrusted with responsibility, will, like so many firebrands, learn to comport himself in due course with the requisite balance, and that the Chauvinism of which he has been the leading exponent will undergo gradual modification..”
“He (Hitler) is not in a comfortable position for he and the two other Nazis in the Cabinet, Dr. Frick and Capt Goering have, to use a phrase I heard today, been ‘carefully wrapped in cotton wool.’ Herr Hugenberg (the multi millionaire leader of the Nationalists) and his friends are in the Ministries from which alone the Nazis could launch their social and economic reforms.”
“As the new government settles down into office, it becomes more and more apparent that it has no desire whatever to embark on dangerous adventures either in internal or foreign affairs.”
“’The ex-Chancellor (von Papen) is a very clever man, and in the opinion of many people is going to be the strong man of the Cabinet, with Hitler himself more of a figurehead.”
“Hitler will not have a free hand, with Von Papen on one side of him and Herr Hugenberg on the other. We shall be surprised if the new combination lasts very long. The Nazi leader will find the hard tasks of Government leadership in a difficult situation very different from the easy opportunities of public popularity offered by flamboyant oratory.”
“There is an air of modesty in the statement by Herr Hitler yesterday which will encourage some people to say that even thus early the responsibilities of office have begun their familiar taming effect… Most people, especially people outside Germany, will like Hitler in office much better than “Hitler on the make.” He repudiates the accusation of having ever been a firebrand, but the declaration that “nobody wanted peace and tranquility more than himself and Germany,” will reach most readers of the words as a new note..”