[HITLER ADOLF]: (1889-1945) Fuhrer of the Third Reich 1933-45. [LLOYD GEORGE DAVID]: ...

[HITLER ADOLF]: (1889-1945) Fuhrer of the Third Reich 1933-45. [LLOYD GEORGE DAVID]: (1863-1945) British Prime Minister 1916-22. An historic, small group of interesting Ds.S. relating to David Lloyd-George's personal audience with Adolf Hitler in September 1936, comprising a typed memorandum signed by Walther Hinrichs (1882-1964), one page, 4to, Berlin, 26th August 1936, to the Secretary of State, on the printed stationery of the Presidential Chancellery, in German. The document states, in part, 'The Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs us that, according to a report from the German embassy in London, Lloyd George will supposedly be coming to Germany in about 14 days, and would like to have an audience with the Fuhrer and Reich Chancellor. The embassy considers it possible that an approach has already been made to the Fuhrer and Reich Chancellor from the British side. Lloyd George apparently did not wish anything to get for the moment into the press about his prospective visit to Germany'. At the foot of the page appears an autograph note signed by Otto Meissner (1880-1953, German civil servant, Chief of the Presidential Chancellery 1920-45) with his initial ('M') acknowledging that 'Lloyd George was received today by the Fuhrer and Reich Chancellor for a lengthy conversation' To the verso appears a further autograph statement signed by Otto Meissner, again with his initial ('M'), dated at Berchtesgaden, 5th August 1936, and stating, in part, 'During the afternoon of today, the Fuhrer again received Lloyd George to tea, together with his daughter, son and suite consisting of three men. The undersigned, Ambassador v. Ribbentrop and Herr Schmitt, legation counsellor in the [Ministry of] F[oreign] A[ffairs], as interpreter, took part in the conversation over tea, which lasted for 1 ½ hours and ranged over questions of current politics as well as of the war period. At the end of the reception, the Fuhrer gave Lloyd George his photograph, with an inscription, in a silver frame, and also, at the request of those accompanying him, wrote his signature on photographs which they put before him. The conversation proceeded on both sides with the greatest candour and sincerity'. As well as being initialled by Meissner the statement also bears the initials of Hinrichs, Doehle and Kiewitz; a second brief typed memorandum signed by Otto Meissner, with his initial ('M'), one page, 4to, Berlin, 14th February 1937, on the printed stationery of the Presidential Chancellery, in German, giving instructions to 'take the attached number of the ''Nineteenth Century'' to the library' and to 'put on file the attached note relating to Lloyd George's visit to the Fuhrer in Berchtesgaden in August 1936'; a third brief typed memorandum signed by Otto Meissner, with his initial ('M'), one page, 4to, Berlin, 14th February 1937, in German, headed Note for the file, and stating, in full, 'Mr. Conwell-Evans, who accompanied Lloyd George on his visit to Germany, has written an article in the October number of the ''Nineteenth Century'' about his and Lloyd George's tour in Germany. This issue of the magazine is in the library'; and a small newspaper clipping, in German, neatly laid down to a plain 4to sheet, relating to the meeting between Hitler and Lloyd George at Berchtesgaden on 4th September 1936. Each with two file holes to the left edges, only very slightly affecting a few words of text to the verso of the first document. Whilst Lloyd George's audience with Hitler has been well documented, it is extremely rare to find any contemporary documents, such as the present ones, relating to the meeting. Generally VG, 4

In September 1936 David Lloyd George visited Germany to hold talks with Adolf Hitler, which he did on two occasions, initially alone and the following day with members of his party including T. P. Conwell-Evans, a Welsh professor at Konigsberg University who knew both Hitler and von Ribbentrop, and who had acted as an intermediary in organising the audience. Lloyd George also conducted a busy tour of German factories and labour camps before returning to England on 16th September 1936. The following day a remarkable article by him appeared in the Daily Express and of Hitler himself Lloyd George wrote 'He is a born leader of men. A magnetic, dynamic personality with a single-minded purpose. He is not merely in name, but in fact the natural leader. He has made them safe against potential enemies by whom they are surrounded. The old trust him. The young idolise him', further remarking in the same article of his experience in Germany 'Everywhere I found a fierce, uncompromising hostility to Russian Bolshevism, coupled with a genuine admiration for the British people, with a profound desire for a better understanding with them. The Germans have definitely made up their minds never to quarrel with us again'.