Hidden Agenda

I’m not a lover of books or films that arise out of war. Mostly I feel that once a war is over it’s best to get on with life and forget something that is fundamentally shameful and reveals the deep flaws in human nature. Certainly I dislike dramas made out of the carnage for entertainment. Even if they claim to be showing the ‘true horror’ they are still capitalising on terror, pain, loss, and injustices.  

So would never have bought it but borrowed it out of curiosity: “Hidden Agenda’ by Martin Allen. Subtitled ‘ How the Duke of Windsor Betrayed the Allies’ the book emerged from  the author’s research into the life and times of Charles Eugene Bedaux, a Frenchman  suspected of spying for the Germans in WW1 who went on to become very rich in the USA, earning the reputation as a philanthropist whilst continuing to have pro-German leanings developing, during the 30’s into Fascist ideals, and active support for Hitler. 

 As Martin Allen looked through the papers owned by his historian father, he found more and more references to ex-king Edward and an increasing body of proof that the  pro-German, pro-Fascist monarch helped Hitler at every opportunity. His sympathies were already so plain even before his coronation that when the opportunity arose over the king’s wish to marry the twice divorced Mrs. Simpson, Prime Minister Baldwin forced Edward into a corner to ensure that he had no option but abdicate. 

When war broke out Edward, now living in France as the Duke of Windsor (on a handsome stipend from the English coffers) had himself made a British major so he could inspect Allied installations and posts  and be in a position to influence the process of the war so radically that he virtually gave the Ardennes and France to the Germans. His information caused Hitler to change plans and Panzer divisions surrounded the Allies creating a situation so disastrous that the war in the West would have been over. That it was not, that there was time to put into effect the contingency plans already made back in England for evacuation, has never been fully explained. Just as the the Panzers were in position for the final assault Hitler, to the bafflement and frustration of his generals, halted them, giving them no reason for the order. In retrospect it seems likely he expected the English, confronted with the imminent loss of almost all their forces, to negotiate a ‘peace’  rather than see them decimated. The Fuhrer, it was reported was enraged when, instead of the words of surrender he was expecting, he heard Churchill’s famous speech declaring his intention to fight every step of the way. 

I’ve heard recordings of that speech so often over my lifetime, either whole or in part, often mimicked in jest, the heavy, measured cigar-slurred tones of the man whose sheer force of will drove the British forward from that moment of virtual annihilation to victory. When I read it in the context of what had gone before I wept.

Those were different times, the monarchy not as toothless and still revered by the majority of the population, even so the efforts made during and after the war to cover the ex-king’s betrayal were extraordinary. According to Allen the destruction of all files, recorded messages, transcripts, computers, etc., at Bletchley Park  ordered by Churchill after the war happened with this end in view, that the people of Britain should never know how close they had come to being sold out to Nazi Germany by one of their royal family. 

The same efforts were made to destroy letters and documents remaining in Germany. Anthony Blunt was sent over to see to this task, thereby adding black humour and an element of despairing naivety to the good intentions. Anthony Blunt turned out to be amongst those spying for the Russians. He had subsequently to be protected by the British government because of what he knew as a result of this special mission!

Afterthought: Today the monarchy is, I imagine, toothless in the face of the Government, but their opinions make waves. Will the Prince who was a devotee of Laurens van der Poste, (godfather to Prince William), the prince who spoke out in favour of Alternative Medicine in a speech to the BMA, who will call an architectural carbuncle a carbuncle, and who, believing like Sir Laurens, in the essential sameness of all religions, declared his intention to be known as ‘Defender of the Faiths,’ ever be allowed to be king?