Hitler's Table Talk

ACTRESSES SHOULD ENTERTAIN FOREIGN STATESMEN 391
whole organisation and power of the enemy. But, even in such
a case, I'd have refused to use this weapon.
The reason why political assassination continues to be so
formidable in the Balkans is that nowadays the population is
still impressed by the idea that, by shedding blood, one is
avenging oneself. That's why Kemal Pasha acted wisely, immediately
after the seizure of power, by proclaiming a new
capital. Thus control by the police could be exercised effectively.
179 2nd April 1942, at dinner
Inelasticity of German protocol—Our eminent visitors get
bored—Graceful customs of the French—Italian Statesmen
visit Berlin.
What I dislike most about the Wilhelmstrasse is the protocol
organisation. When an official guest arrives in Berlin, protocol
seizes hold of him from six o'clock in the morning until deep
into night. They put on Faust or a showing of Tristan for Balkan
types who would enjoy only a farce or an operetta. Old gentlemen
who've come to Berlin to discuss important problems, and
who'd be the better for half a day's rest, are dragged from
receptions to banquets, where they see the same faces everywhere.
For the majority of our guests, the constraint imposed
by protocol is a genuine martyrdom. Wouldn't it be better to
offer them the company of some pretty women who speak their
language fluently? In Berlin, of all cities, we have the luck to
number amongst our actresses women like Lili Dagover, Olga
Tschechowa and Tiana Lemnitz.
In this respect, Boris of Bulgaria showed himself to be more
of a fox than we knew. When he received the offer of somebody
to pilot him through Berlin, he expressed the wish that his stay
should be deprived of official character. He didn't want to put
anyone out, he said. The fact was, he wanted to escape the
martyrdom of protocol. He wasn't present at the showing of
Faust, or of another opera, but he went and saw The Poor
Student and then The Count of Luxemburg, He had a royal time.
When dealing with Balkan princes, one must bear in mind
that they can scarcely leave their country for more than a week,
for fear of losing their thrones during their absence.