[HITLER ADOLF]: (1889-1945) Fuhrer of the Third Reich 1933-45. [MENZIES ROBERT]: (1894-1978) Prime Minister of Australia 1939-41, 1949-66. An interesting series of T.Ls.S. and documents relating to a visit by Menzies to Germany in July 1938 with the hope of meeting Adolf Hitler and other high-ranking Nazi leaders, comprising a typed letter, unsigned, by von Scmieden of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, two pages, 4to, Berlin, 16^th July 1938, to the Presidential Chancellery of the Fuhrer, in German, announcing that a telegram has been received from the German Embassy in London informing them that 'Menzies, the Australian Attorney General, who will possibly be the next Australian Prime Minister, intends to travel soon to Berlin….with the aim of exchanging views with influential German personalities' and further stating 'He would be grateful if it could be made possible for him to have a talk with General Field Marshal Goring, Reich Minister Goebbels and Herr Schacht, the president of the Reich Bank', although also remarking 'In reply to his request for an audience with the Fuhrer, he was informed that this would hardly be possible in view of the short notice'. The letter concludes 'Since Menzies is apparently motivated by good intentions, and plays an important role in Australia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would be grateful if the other aforementioned talks for which he asks could take place'. With a brief A.N.S. by Otto Meissner (1880-1953, German civil servant, Chief of the Presidential Chancellery 1920-45) in the margin, signed with his initial ('M'), in pencil, confirming that a reception with the Fuhrer would be impossible; a T.L.S., Ruter, by Ernst Ruter (1885-1954) a senior counsellor within the German Foreign Ministry, one page, 4to, Berlin, 19^th July 1938, to the Presidential Chancellery of the Fuhrer, in German. The Express Letter states that the press in Australia are reporting that the Prime Minister has announced that Robert Menzies, the Australian Attorney General, will travel to Germany 'in order to discuss two-way trade, even if there is no question, for the time being, of the conclusion of a German-Australian trade agreement' continuing 'This report confirms the view held here that the visit of the Australian minister could serve not only for a general exchange of views, but for substantial negotiations on trade' and concluding 'The German Consul-General has said, in a telegram, that he considers it certainly the right course to give a friendly reception to Menzies, but warns against giving too great weight to the statements he may make', accompanied by a four page report prepared by Ruter on Menzies and two other related letters including an unsigned carbon

typed copy of a letter sent by Walther Hinrichs (1882-1964), one page, 4to, Berlin, 20^th July 1938, to the protocol department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in German, stating, in full, 'You are requested to inform Menzies, the Australian Attorney General, who is currently in London, in whatever way seems appropriate, that - in view of the short notice - an audience with the Fuhrer and Reich Chancellor can no longer be made possible, on account of other arrangements which have already been fixed'; also including Greg McGirr (1879-1949) Australian politician who represented the Labor Party. T.L.S., Greg McGirr, one page, 4to, North Sydney, New South Wales, 7^th February 1938, to Adolf Hitler. McGirr announces that he expects to make a tour of Germany in the coming months, adding 'I am very interested in your good self, and closely connected with a lot of your people in this country. I am an ex-Minister of the Crown here, having been Minister of Public Health, and having introduced the Motherhood Endowment Scheme in New South Wales' and continuing 'I would like to have the pleasure of seeing and meeting you, if only for a few minutes, as I am a great admirer of a great man'. Accompanied by a series of T.Ls.S. and documents relating to McGirr's request for an audience with Hitler including a T.L.S. Augst, by Martin Augst, an employee of the Chancellery, one page, oblong 8vo, Berlin, 18^th March 1938, forwarding McGirr's letter to the competent department within the Presidential Chancellery and noting that no acknowledgement of receipt has been made, a T.L.S., v. Mackensen, by Hans Georg von Mackensen (1883-1947; German diplomat who served as a Secretary of State at the Foreign Ministry), one page, 4to, Berlin, 31^st March 1938, to the Minister of State, in German, providing some background details on McGirr, in part, 'McGirr….was one of the protagonists of the Australian Labour Party, and became Minister of Health in 1922, in which capacity he brought in the law on maternity benefits; at the next elections (in 1925) he left the Labour Party and joined the Conservative Party (the opposition), subsequently he became a political lone wolf, who found little following, and today also still has scarcely any influence on public opinion; since 1925 he has acted as vice-consul to Brazil in Sydney', and concluding 'In view of his highly-chequered past, and his currently more or less insignificant position, it would seem not only undesirable, but pointless, so far as foreign affairs are concerned, for him to be received by the Fuhrer and Reich Chancellor', and a few other related letters; and further including three carbon typed unsigned copies of letters relating to requests for meetings with Adolf Hitler by Albert Dunstan (1882-1950; Australian politician, Premier of Victoria 1935-43, 1943-45) in 1937 and by R. B. Bennet (1870-1947; Prime Minister of Canada 1930-35). All with file holes to the left edges and some with neatly clipped upper right corners and the majority with various official stamps and pencil and ink annotations etc. Generally VG, 17