As the bombs begin to explode in London, Chamberlain announces that
he
recognizes the German Reich and appeals to Hitler to arrest those enemies
of
peace who are launching bombs at London. He appeals to Hitler to denounce
the terror. Hitler insists he is trying his best to stop the violence.
The British Foreign Minister agrees. To help calm the situation,
the British government agrees to send food and medicine to Germany.
The RAF shoots down some Messerschmidt pilots dropping bombs on
London.
Hitler calls his followers together in a large rally in Nuremberg and
appeals to those attending to remember the martyred German pilots who were
killed while dropping bombs on London, and to strive to continue their
mission. Chamberlain praises Hitler’s speech for exhibiting moderation
and
restraint. He begins to send small arms to the German authorities to use
to control the anti-peace underground opposition groups.
During a lull in the bombings, Chamberlain makes a speech in which
he
says he is more concerned about the invasion of Britain by Hollywood
movies
than he is by buzz bombs. When more bombs explode, there are increasing
calls to strike back at Germany. Chamberlain points out that this would
be
the very worst option possible. Britain must endeavor to make peace with
its German peace partners. This is the only way to achieve a New Middle
Europe. And besides, if Hitler is not supported and strengthened, then an
even more radical and violent leader will emerge in Germany. Hitler
informs London that literally thousands of renegade German Luftwaffe
pilots
have been arrested for dropping bombs on London. Chamberlain breaths a
sigh
of relief.
As more bombs fall, Chamberlain points out that the dead are simply
martyrs for peace and Britain must carry on with its peace process, since
there is just no alternative. Hitler takes a side trip to neutral
Stockholm and makes a speech about how all the English will soon be
evicted
from the British isles after a German victory. Chamberlain allows Oswald
Mosley’s fascist party to run in the election and asks its Parliamentary
Members to join his coalition. Mosley’s people exercise hegemony over
the British universities and the media.
After further bombs explode, Chamberlain loses his temper and
decides
to take action. He assigns extra police to guard the Underground
stations
in London. He orders British critics of his peace process to be arrested
for criminal incitement against the government and for undermining peace
efforts and endangering security. Chamberlain meets with British poets
and
writers and they issue an appeal to the British public to remain firm in
the
face of adversity and continue to strive for peace. Stiff British upper
chin and all that.
Chamberlain again appeals to President Hitler to arrest those
responsible for the violence. But he reminds British citizens that the
unbearable alternative would be to send British soldiers back into the
territories of Germany (where they patrolled during World War I), and back
to a situation where German youths throw rocks at British Tommies.
More bombs go off. Chamberlain proposes speeding up the peace
process and disarming the Royal Navy as a show of good will. The Duce
from
Italy comes for a state visit, congratulating Chamberlain and the British
people for their devotion to peace in the face of provocation.
More bombs go off. Chamberlain proposes sealing off two bedrooms
in
the German Embassy in London, but civil rights lawyers appeal to the Court
of Appeals and the ruling is overturned. The government considers
proposals to turn Stonehenge over to the Germans, as it is a holy shrine
for
all pagans.
More bombs go off. Chamberlain’s Minister of Communications notes
that there would be no violence if the British would just disarm
altogether,
and stop making Hitler feel insecure. Besides, she notes, the British
should not be occupying Scotland and Wales in the first place, lands in
which they just do not belong. Chamberlain opens secret negotiations
with
Germany to transfer London’s East End, Greenwich and Docklands areas to
German sovereignty.
More bombs go off. That is it, yells Chamberlain. The camel’s
back
is broken. It is time to fight German terror with all means at our
disposal. This is the Moral Equivalent Of War, he yells. The slogan
Moral Equivalent Of War becomes the name of the government’s campaign
against the violence. The entire cabinet joins in. We fight the Moral
Equivalent Of War against terror, they scream. MEOW, for short.