Hitler then gave what he described as a "brief outline of Germany's policy in the Balkans," in which he said the Reich had never pursued any territorial or other selfish interests in the Balkans, On the contrary, she had always endeavoured to build up and strengthen the close economic ties with these states, The Reich, he continued, was only interested in one thing, if indeed there was any question of political interest, namely, in seeing that internally the business partner was established on a sound, heakhy basis Hitler referred to the British guarantee to Rumanía and Greece, and said Rumania had had to pay bitterly for the guarantee, which was calculated to estrange her from the Axis Powers. Greece, who least of all required this guarantee, was also prepared to give way to British persuasion to link her destiny with that of the country which provided her king with cash and orders, "Even today I feel that I must distinguish between the Greek people and that thin top layer of corrupt leaders who were inspired by a King who was subservient to Great Britain and had no eye for the duty of true leadership,"
Hitler again quoted documents alleged to have been found at Lacharite, which provided him with the names of those countries which were found, sooner or later, to lead Greece into the deepest misfortune, As a result of violations of neutrality in the later summer of 1940, Italy felt called upon to make pro posals to the Greek Government and to demand guarantees that would tend to put an end to conditions which Italy could no longer tolerate.
This request was unceremoniously refused, Thus the peace of the Balkans was broken.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.