Hitler's Table Talk

408 TITLES AND DECORATIONS A GOOD BUSINESS
costs more, we must follow the example of the English and send
abroad diplomatic missions composed of men of genuine worth
and paid accordingly. The result will be worth it. In the
country to which he's sent, the diplomat's task consists in
suitably representing German interests. Furthermore, he must
exactly inform his government, with the help of circumstantial
reports, on all advisable measures. If our missions abroad
fulfilled their duty, it would enable us considerably to lighten
the services of the central administration. Fewer people at the
Wilhelmstrasse, and their activities would be more effective.
Passing to another idea, the Fuehrer speculated whether conferring
honorific distinctions on foreigners brought good results. Ambassador
Hewel replied that, subject to certain reservations) it did so. The
Fuehrer continued:
I've often thought about that problem. Instead of offering
gold cigarette-cases, as we have done hitherto, it is in our
interest to offer decorations. These latter, unless they're
decorated with diamonds, represent an expenditure of from
two marks fifty to twenty-five marks, whereas a gold case costs
us about seventy marks. Seeing the success we have with the
award of decorations, there's no need to hesitate. The fact is
that just as men are on the look-out for titles, so they run after
decorations. To tell the truth, I don't much like that sort of
traffic. I cannot see myself proclaiming that for a hundred
thousand marks one becomes a vice-consul, for five hundred
thousand a consul, and for a million a consul-general. Yet
that's how Imperial Germany obtained supplementary resources
for herself. She was especially given to turning the
title of Kommerzienrat (trade councillor) into cash.
It's proper to act cautiously in this matter—otherwise titles
and decorations lose their value. I think that "old Fritz" would
give the Prussian State Council a piece of his mind—that
miserable attempt at resurrection—if he were able to see that
assembly of do-nothings at work.