ENGLAND
The
still
S
25
CLIVEDEN SET
date set for the invasion was approaching but Eden was
and Hitler began to fear that perhaps "perfidious
in office
her overtures of friendship might really be
double-crossing Germany. If England could send a special emis
sary to offer to sell out Austria and double-cross her ally France,
Albion"
with
all
she might be quite capable of tricking Germany. Simultaneously
the Gestapo stumbled upon information that the British Intel
had reached into the top ranks of the German Army and
was working with high officers. Hitler, not knowing how far the
British Intelligence had penetrated, shook up his cabinet, made
Ribbentrop Secretary for Foreign Affairs, and prepared for war
in the event that England was leading him into a trap.
There are records in the British Foreign Office which show
ligence
that Hitler, before invading Austria, tested England to be sure
he wasn t being led into a trap. Von Ribbentrop informed Eden
and Chamberlain that Hitler intended to summon Schuschnigg,
the Austrian Chancellor, and demand that Austria rearrange her
cabinet, take in Dr. Seyss-Inquart and release imprisoned Nazis.
Hitler knew that Schuschnigg would immediately rush to Eng
land and France for aid.
If
they turned Austria
down
it
was
safe to proceed with the invasion.
The British Foreign Office records
show that Schuschnigg did
rush to England and France for support, that France was ready
to give it, but that England refused, thereby forcing France to
keep out of it.
While these frantic maneuvers were going on, the Astor-conTimes and Observer, the Nazi and the Italian press simul
trolled
taneously started a campaign against Eden. The date set for the
sacrifice of Austria was approaching and Eden had to go or it
might fail. The public, however, was with Eden; so another kind
of attack was launched. Stories began to appear about the For
eign Secretary s health. There were sighs, long faces, sad regrets,
but Eden stuck to his post in the hope that he could do some-