Hitler's Table Talk

FRANCO AND MUNOZ GRANDE 693
The journey of Otto, the son of Zita, to Budapest reads like a
novel. His suite consisted of a Hungarian nobleman—and a
trumpeter, perched on the engine, who from time to time all
but burst his lungs with his trumpetings ! Horthy did not even
deign to receive him. The whole buffoonery had been organised
by Zita; its repulse was the work of Madame Horthy. I leave
you to imagine for yourselves the dénouement of this grandiose
undertaking ! The only person whose head it entered to welcome
the heroes was the brother of Franz Lehar. In Vienna, Otto
would just about have been fitted to become a maître d'hôtel. If
the Habsburgs had had an ounce of character they would have
defended their heritage or died; as it was, they docilely surrendered
their rights—and then tried to recover them by force !
Humanity cannot exist without an idol. The Americans, for
instance, must needs put their President on a pedestal—for as
long as he remains President. The monarchies have shown
themselves singularly adept at setting up this particular type of
idol, and there is no doubt that the whole performance has a
measure of common sense in it. It succeeds splendidly, provided
always that it is backed by force and power. The Church, for
example, possesses nothing but the outer trappings; its troops
consist of inoffensive archers, nice fellows with broken arrows !
One has only to see them marching in the Corpus Christi procession
to understand why the revolutionaries of 1918 left them
in peace!
When Franco appears in public, he is always surrounded by
his Moorish Guard. He has assimilated all the mannerisms of
Royalty, and when the King returns, he will be the ideal
stirrup-holder!
I am quite sure that Serrano Suner was goaded on by the
clergy. His plan was to found a Latin Union of France, Italy
and Spain, and then to range it at Britain's side—the whole to
have the blessing of the Archbishop of Canterbury—and a little
spicing of Communism for good measure !
I think one of the best things we ever did was to permit a
Spanish Legion to fight at our side. On the first opportunity I
shall decorate Mufioz Grande with the Iron Cross with Oak
Leaves and Diamonds. It will pay dividends. Soldiers, whoever
they may be, are always enthusiastic about a courageous