Since the signing of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, Germany was forbidden to raise an army, manufacture armaments or draft conscripts for an army - so when Hitler ordered this army to occupy Western Germany (also forbidden by treaty), the brass caps of Europe called it the biggest crises since 1914. It was agreed that Europe's diplomats should convene in Geneva and hash it all out. Britain's new king, Edward VIII, insisted that the diplomats meet in London, where he would have a private meeting with Joachim von Ribbentrop, Germany's ambassador, and give him a good talking to. This impressed only the journalist who penned this column. Despite all the sweet words that spewed from the King's mouth, the German Army remained in the Rhineland (although von Ribbentrop was impressed with the King's tailoring) .
