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CONTENTS
PREFACE
Germany's Word of Honour
(July 11, 1936-September 26, 1938)
I
(July 11, 1936-March 12, 1938)
1 July 11, 1936
Austro-German agreement by which Germany recognizes
the
sovereignty and independence of Austria
.................. 1
2 M. PUAUX_Vienna, March 12, 1938
The German Army enters Austria
............................ 2
II
(March 12-16, 1938)
3 M. FRAN€OIS-PONCET_Berlin, March 12
March 11, 1938. Czechoslovakia has nothing to fear
from
Germany. Marshal Goering spontaneously gives his
word of
honour to this effect to the Czechoslovak Minister
in
Berlin. He specifies that he is speaking not merely
in his
own name, but in that of Herr Hitler
...................... 2
4 M. FRAN€OIS-PONCET_Berlin, March 12
Baron von Neurath renews these assurances to the
Czecho-
slovak Minister on behalf of Herr Hitler
.................. 3
5 M. DE LACROIX_Prague, March 12
M. Krofta, Foreign Minister of Czechoslovakia,
accepting
the statements of the leaders of the Reich, declares
to the
French Minister in Prague that he does not consider
that
there is an immediate danger of German aggression.
Contrary
to rumours, Czechoslovakia has not mobilized, and
does not
contemplate doing so
...................................... 3
6. M. CORBIN_London. March 12
M. Masaryk, Czechoslovak Minister in London, would
like a
Great Power to take note of these declarations, and
contem-
plates bringing them to the attention of the British
Govern-
ment in an official Note
.................................. 4
7 M. CORBIN_London, March 13
On his Government's instructions, M. Masaryk takes
the
step he has suggested. At the same time, speaking
personal-
ly, he expresses the hope that the British
Government will
make it known in Berlin that the assurances given by
the
Reich to Czechoslovakia have been brought to their
notice . 5
[VII]
8 M. CORBIN_London, March 14
The British Ambassador in Berlin receives
instructions to
inform Marshal Goering of the communication of the
Czecho-
slovak Government and of the desire of the British
Govern-
ment to make public the declarations of the leaders
of the
Reich. Marshal Goering expresses his agreement
............ 6
9 EXTRACT FROM MR. CHAMBERLAIN'S SPEECH_London, March 14
In his speech to the House of Commons Mr.
Chamberlain
mentions the pledges given by members of the German
Govern-
ment
...................................................... 7
10 M. FRAN€OIS-PONCET_Berlin, March 15
The French Ambassador in Berlin confirms that
Marshal
Goering has in fact authorized the British
Government to
make public the assurances he has given to
Czechoslovakia . 7
III
(September 26, 1938)
11 EXTRACT FROM HERR HITLER'S SPEECH_Berlin, September 26
Herr Hitler solemnly declares that his claim for the
Sudeten
territory is his last territorial demand in Europe.
There-
after he will take no further interest in the Czech
State . 8
PART ONE
The Munich Agreement and its Application
(September 29-October 4, 1938)
12 HERR HITLER, MR. CHAMBERLAIN, SIGNOR MUSSOLINI, M.
DALADIER_
Munich, September 29
The agreement concluded at Munich on September 29,
1938,
between Germany, the United Kingdom, France and
Italy,
regulates the conditions for the evacuation by
Czecho-
slovakia and the occupation by Germany of the
Sudeten terri-
tories, entrusts to an international commission the
task of
fixing the frontiers of the Czech State and
stipulates, in
its Annex I, that an international guarantee of
these fron-
tiers shall be given by the four signatory Powers
......... 9
13 M. DALADIER_Munich, September 30
M. Daladier asks the French Minister in Prague to
make sure
of President Benes's acceptance
........................... 12
14 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, October 2
The French Minister for Foreign Affairs sends to M.
Krofta,
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Czechoslovakia, a
personal
message of sympathy
....................................... 12
15 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, October 3
M. Georges Bonnet gives an account of the results of
the
Munich agreement for the guidance of French
diplomatic repre-
sentatives abroad
......................................... 13
16 M. FRAN€OIS-PONCET_Berlin, October 4
The French Ambassador in Berlin considers that,
although,
for the first time, Herr Hitler has had to
compromise to a
certain extent, nevertheless the Western Democracies
ought,
above all, to draw from recent events the lesson
that it is
only through their strength and unity of action that
they
will be able to prevent the repetition of crises
similar to
that solved by the Munich agreement
....................... 15
[VIII]
PART TWO
The Franco-German Declaration of December 6th, 1938
(October 19-December 22, 1938)
17 M. FRAN€OIS-PONCET_Berlin, October 19
M. Fran‡ois-Poncet gives an account of the audience
which
Herr Hitler granted him on the occasion of the
termination
of his mission as Ambassador in Berlin. The Fhrer's
pro-
posals for improving Franco-German relations and for
a gen-
eral appeasement
.......................................... 19
18 M. FRAN€OIS-PONCET_, October 20
M. Fran‡ois-Poncet gives a detailed account of his
visit to
Herr Hitler; he indicates that in his opinion the
plan (a
written recognition by France and Germany of their
existing
frontiers and pledges for mutual
consultation_eventual
limitation of armaments_monetary and economic
problems) out-
lined to him by Herr Hitler deserves consideration
........ 20
19 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, October 21
The French Government takes a favourable view, in
principle,
of Herr Hitler's proposals
................................ 28
20 M. FRAN€OIS-PONCET_Berlin, October 22
The German Government is at once informed of the
views of
the French Government
..................................... 28
21 M. FRAN€OIS-PONCET_Berlin, October 24
Marshal Goering shows himself extremely favourable
to the
plan under discussion. According to him, Herr von
Ribben-
trop, as well as the Chancellor, would also be
favourably
disposed
.................................................. 29
22 MINISTER'S NOTE_Paris, November 22
The Minister informs the Polish Ambassador in Paris;
the
latter receives very favourably the communication
made to
him
....................................................... 29
23 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, November 23
M. Coulondre presents his credentials to Herr Hitler
on Nov-
ember 22. The Fhrer discusses Franco-German
relations,
which he hopes will be peaceful and good; he
expresses his
wish to translate into practical measures the ideas
he has
outlined to M. Fran‡ois-Poncet
........................... 29
24 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, November 24
The D.N.B. Agency announces that negotiations are in
pro-
gress and lets it be understood that Herr von
Ribbentrop
will shortly go to Paris
.................................. 31
25 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, November 25
The Minister for Foreign Affairs informs the French
Ambas-
sador in Berlin that the German Ambassador in Paris
has in-
formed him of his Government's agreement to the
final text 32
26 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, November 27
The Minister for Foreign Affairs informs the French
Ambas-
sador Washington of the Franco-German negotiations
and of
their result. He points out that the forthcoming
declara-
tion will fully reserve our liberty of action
towards third
parties to whom we are bound by ties of solidarity
and indi-
cates that the British Government has expressed its
satis-
faction with the document
................................. 32
[IX]
27 MINISTER'S NOTE_Paris, November 28
The Minister for Foreign Affairs informs the
Ambassador of
the U.S.S.R. of the proposed Franco-German
declaration .... 34
28 M. GEORGES BONNET AND HERR VON RIBBENTROP_Paris,
December 6
The Franco-German declaration is signed in Paris by
the Min-
isters for Foreign Affairs on December 6, 1938. It
proclaims
the necessity of peaceful relations between the two
coun-
tries; it takes note that there are no further
territorial
questions between them, and that both parties
recognize the
Franco-German frontier as permanent; it constitutes
at the
same time an undertaking between the parties to
consult each
other
..................................................... 35
29 Paris, December 6
A communiqu‚ published at the conclusion of the
Franco-
German conversations reproduces the text of the
speeches
delivered by the French and German Ministers for
Foreign Af-
fairs, which particularly emphasize the contribution
to gen-
eral appeasement made by the Franco-German
declaration .... 36
30 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, December 11
The Minister for Foreign Affairs informs the French
Ambas-
sador in London that he has left Herr von Ribbentrop
in no
doubt as to the character of Franco-British
solidarity, and
that he has pointed out to him the necessity for an
improve-
ment in Anglo-German relations parallel with the
development
of Franco-German relations
................................ 38
31 M. CORBIN_London, December 12
Mr. Chamberlain expresses in the House of Commons
the sat-
isfaction of the British Government at the
completion of the
Franco-German agreement
................................... 38
32 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, December 14
The Minister for Foreign Affairs notifies the
diplomatic
representatives of France abroad that in the course
of his
conversations with Herr von Ribbentrop different
subjects
were approached, among others the question of the
inter-
national guarantee to be accorded to Czechoslovakia
....... 39
33 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, December 15
M. Coulondre notes that the desire for good
relations with
France is general in Germany, but that as a
corollary there
is a very clear desire for expansion in the east. It
seems
that Herr Hitler wants to make himself master of
Central
Europe by making Czechoslovakia and Hungary vassal
States,
and by creating a Greater Ukraine under German
hegemony ... 41
34 M. RISTELHUEBER_Sofia, December 16
According to the Prime Minister of Bulgaria, it is
perhaps
not so much South-Eastern Europe as Poland that is
aimed at,
in the first place, by Germany. In his opinion a
German-
Soviet rapprochement would not be out of the
question, and
would herald the fourth partition of Poland
............... 45
35 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, December 22
In the course of a conversation with our Ambassador
in Ber-
lin Baron von Weizs„cker shows himself reticent on
the sub-
ject of the granting to Czechoslovakia of the
international
guarantee provided for in the Munich Agreement
............ 46
[X]
PART THREE
The End of Czechoslovakia
(January 5-March 19, 1939)
36 M. DE MONTBAS_Berlin, January 5
At the outset of 1939 the atmosphere of the Third
Reich can-
not be better described than by the term tension.
The Ger-
man grip on Czechoslovakia is tightening
.................. 48
37 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, January 12
In the course of the interview which Colonel Beck
had in
Bavaria with Herr Hitler and Herr von Ribbentrop and
on the
Fhrer's initiative, it was reaffirmed specifically
that it
was necessary to maintain the relations of good
neighbour-
liness inaugurated by the German-Polish declaration
of 1934 50
38 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw. January 27
The French Ambassador calls on Herr von Ribbentrop
during
the latter's visit to Warsaw, and informs him of the
wel-
come given by the Chamber of Deputies to the passage
in M.
Georges Bonnet's speech concerning Franco-German
relations. 51
39 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, January 27
Herr von Ribbentrop fears the influence of the
U.S.S.R.
upon the foreign policy of France
......................... 52
40 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, January 27
The Minister for Foreign Affairs transmits to the
French
Ambassador in Berlin the passage in his speech in
the Cham-
ber of Deputies concerning Franco-German relations
........ 53
41 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, January 30
In his telegram to his Polish colleague after his
visit to
him in Poland Herr von Ribbentrop expresses the
conviction
that "the friendly relations between the two States
have
been in a large measure strengthened by their
conversations
in Warsaw"
................................................ 53
42 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, January 30
Colonel Beck indicates to the French Ambassador in
Warsaw
that he is completely in agreement with Herr von
Ribbentrop
on the necessity and the possibility of settling
present and
future difficulties between the two countries in
"the spirit
of good neighbourliness" which is the basis of the
pact of
1934
...................................................... 54
43 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, February 4
The French Ambassador in Warsaw indicates that in
the course
of the Germano-Polish conversations Poland has
refused the
establishment of a "corridor through the Corridor"
and the
granting of extra-territorial status to a motor road
or a
railway
................................................... 54
44 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, February 4
The Minister instructs the French Ambassador in
Berlin to
make a d‚marche parallel with that to be carried out
by his
British colleague in order to ascertain the
intentions of
the German Government on the subject of the
guarantee to be
granted to Czechoslovakia
................................. 55
45 M. DE LACROIX_Prague, February 7
An interview between the French Minister in Prague
and M.
Chvalkovsky, Czechoslovak Minister for Foreign
Affairs, on
the latter's return
[XI]
from Berlin brings little reassurance on this
question, Herr
Hitler having apparently subordinated the granting
of the
German guarantee to several conditions
.................... 55
46 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, February 7
In the course of a conversation with the French
Ambassador
in Berlin Herr von Ribbentrop specifies that
Germany's fo-
reign policy has two objectives: (1) to combat
Bolshevism by
every means, (2) to recover her colonies. On the
first point
he adds "As regards the Soviets we shall remain as
firm as a
rock. We shall never come to an agreement with
Bolshevik Russia"
......................................... 57
47 VERBAL NOTE FROM THE FRENCH AMBASSADOR IN
BERLIN_Berlin,
February 8
Recalling the terms of Annex 1 of the Munich
Agreement the
French Ambassador in Berlin hands to the Foreign
Office of
the Reich a Note verbale in which he requests the
views of
the German Government on the question of the
international
guarantee
................................................. 59
48 M. DE LACROIX_Prague, February 18
M. de Lacroix enumerates the ten conditions to which
Ger-
many would subordinate the granting of her guarantee
...... 60
49 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, February 22
M. Bonnet requests M. Coulondre to acquaint him
with the
result of his d‚marche
.................................... 61
50 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, February 24
M. Coulondre reports that no answer has yet been
received
from the German Foreign Office
............................ 61
51 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, March 2
The German reply suggests that the conditions
provided for
in Annex I of the Munich Agreement have not been
fulfilled,
the question of the Polish and Hungarian minorities
in
Czechoslovakia not having been settled. It takes for
granted,
moreover, that Central Europe is no longer any
concern of
the Western Powers
........................................ 61
52 M. DE LACROIX_Prague, March 10
The negotiations which have been going on for some
time be-
tween the Czechs and the Slovaks result in a crisis;
the
Prague Government dismisses the Slovak Ministers
represen-
ting extremist influences and the Prime Minister,
Mgr. Tiso.
At the same time it takes important police
precautions in
Slovakia
.................................................. 65
53 M. DE LACROIX_Prague, March 10
First indications suggest that the Prague Government
has the
situation in hand. They have not observed any
reaction from
the German side. Nevertheless, there are rumours of
concen-
trations of German troops on the southern frontiers
of Mor-
ana and Slovakia
.......................................... 66
54 M. DE MONTBAS_Berlin, March 11
Mgr. Tiso appeals for help to the German Government.
The
latter is reported to be contemplating an "armed
mediation."
The German Press suggests that Germany has
undertaken to
support the cause of the nationalities in revolt
against the
Government of Prague
...................................... 66
55 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, March 13
Since March 11 military preparations and movements
of
troops have been
[XII]
noted. Everything points to Germany being about to
launch
an armed campaign against Czechoslovakia in the near
future 67
56 M. COULONDRE-Berlin, March 13
This view is confirmed by a German personality
according to
whom the fate of Czechoslovakia is settled. What
Germany
wants is the annexation pure and simple of Bohemia
and
Moravia
................................................... 68
57 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, March 13
Confronted with this display of force on the part of
the
Reich and the attitude of the German Press, the
French
Ambassador in Berlin proposes to make a d‚marche at
the
Wilhelmstrasse based on the Munich agreement and on
the
Franco-German declaration of December 6
................... 68
58 M. DE LACROIX_Prague, March 14
The Reich has presented an ultimatum to Prague
............ 70
59 M. DE LACROIX_Prague, March 14
The open intervention of Germany appears to have
deprived
the Prague Government of all energy. The
proclamation of
the independence of Slovakia is expected
.................. 71
60 M. DE LACROIX_Prague, March 14
The Vienna radio station continues to denounce the
bad treat-
ment of which the Germans of Czechoslovakia are
supposed to
have been victims, and alludes to a Marxist plot in
Prague;
the tactics followed by Germany in this connection
recall
those employed in September 1938, and on the eve of
the
Anschluss
................................................. 71
61 M. DE LACROIX_Prague, March 14
It appears to be confirmed that Germany is insisting
on the
dismissal of several Czech Ministers, and perhaps of
the
entire Cabinet
............................................ 71
62 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, March 14
The French Ambassador in Berlin indicates that in
the course
of a visit to that capital Mgr. Tiso and Herr
Durcansky are
reported to have received from the German leaders a
promise
that German friendship would be extended to an
independent
Slovakia
.................................................. 72
63 M. COULONDRE-Berlin, March 14
From an interview between the British Ambassador and
Herr
von Weizs„cker, it appears that Germany considers
the Tiso
Government to be the only legitimate government and
the
action of the Prague Government against it to be
contrary to
the constitution. Nevertheless, in Sir Nevile
Henderson's
opinion, Germany is still hesitating, on the line of
conduct
to be adopted
............................................. 73
64 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, March 14
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, recalling the
spirit and
scope of the Munich Agreement, and referring to the
Franco-
German declaration of December 6, instructs the
French Amb-
assador in Berlin to express the serious anxiety of
the
French Government to Herr von Ribbentrop and to ask
him what
interpretation should be placed on the action of the
Reich
in Slovakia
............................................... 74
65 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, March 14
As President Hacha is meeting Herr Hitler, the
French Ambas-
sador in Berlin gives an outline of the political
situation.
Slovakia has just proclaimed her independence; the
German
Press is announcing the "disrup-
[XIII]
tion" of Czechoslovakia. The whole affair has been
conducted
by the Reich in conformity with a preconceived plan
and
following the method already used at the time of the
Anschluss and in September, 1938
.......................... 75
66 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, March 14
During the last few months Germany has completely
revised
her policy in the East. Immediately after the Munich
Agree-
ment it seemed that Germany wished to keep a vassal
Czecho-
slovak state as a starting-point for her expansion
towards
the South-East; subsequently she has reversed her
decision
and ceased to object to the plan of establishing a
Polish-
Hungarian frontier on the Carpathians
..................... 79
67 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, March 15
The French Ambassador in Berlin announces the
occupation of
Bohemia and Moravia by the German Army and specifies
that
these provinces will be purely and simply annexed by
Germany.
Between Czech and German Ministers there are no
negotiations
in the true meaning of the word. Herr Hitler has
confined
himself to announcing his decision to the Czechs
.......... 82
68 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, March 15
The French Ambassador in Berlin indicates that he is
to be
received by Herr von Weizs„cker. He proposes
expressly to
reserve the attitude of the French Government
towards the
situation created by the German Government
................ 83
69 HERR VON WELCZECK_Paris, March 15
The German Ambassador in Paris communicates to the
French
Government the text of an arrangement concluded
during the
night of March 1415 between Herr Hitler and
President Hacha
according to the terms of which the President of
Czecho-
slovakia is reported to have placed the destinies of
his
people in the Fhrer's hands. Herr von Welczeck
notifies
moreover that following this arrangement German
troops
crossed the Czech frontier on March 15 at six
o'clock in the
morning to re-establish order
............................. 83
70 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, March 15
To the request for explanations made by the French
Ambassador
in Berlin, Herr von Weizs„cker replies that
Czechoslovakia
was in a state of disruption, that Germany has had
to inter-
vene to protect the threatened German minority, and
that,
besides, an agreement has been concluded between the
Berlin
and Prague Governments. When questioned upon the
intentions
of Germany and an eventual withdrawal of the German
troops,
Herr von Weizs„cker merely refers M. Coulondre to
the text
of the agreement concluded between Herr Hitler and
M. Hacha
................................................. 85
71 M. DE LACROIX_Prague, March 15
Herr Hitler and Herr von Ribbentrop are reported to
have
told M. Hacha that the most terrible repression
will take
place if the least resistance is made to the entry
of the
German troops
............................................. 86
72 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, March 16
The Minister for Foreign Affairs asks the French
Ambassador
in London to draw the attention of the British
Government to
the necessity of a formal protest by the Governments
of
Paris and London and of a concerted d‚marche by
their Ambas-
sadors in Berlin
.......................................... 86
73 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, March 16
The French Ambassador in Berlin finds typical
elements of
the Hitlerian mentality in the circumstances which
have
brought about the disappear-
[XIV]
ance of Czechoslovakia: cynicism and perfidy in
conception,
secrecy in preparation ruthlessness in execution.
The lesson
to be drawn from it is that Hitler's thirst for
domination
is boundless and that it would be in vain to try to
oppose
it successfully by any other argument than force
.......... 88
74 M. ARDIET_Nuremberg, March 16
Gauleiter Streicher proclaims publicly that the
Prague
affair is only a beginning and that the Democracies
are
doomed
.................................................... 94
75 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, March 16
In Poland the annexation of Czechoslovakia is
regarded as
the prelude to action by the Reich in the East
............ 94
76 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, March 17
The French Ambassador in Berlin receives
instructions to
hand to the German Minister for Foreign Affairs a
Note in
which the French Government specifies that it cannot
recog-
nize the legality of the new situation created in
Czecho-
slovakia by the action of the Reich
....................... 95
77 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, March 17
M. Coulondre relates the dramatic circumstances in
which M.
Hacha has been induced to sign the agreement imposed
on him
by Herr Hitler
............................................ 96
78 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, March 18
The French Ambassador in Berlin hands a note of
protest from
the French Government to Herr von Weizs„cker, who
accepts it
only after making difficulties
............................ 98
79 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, March 18
The German Government's bad faith is confirmed from
numerous
sources
................................................... 99
80 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, March 19
Much more than even a new advance of German
influence east-
wards, the unspeakable methods resorted to by the
Reich mark
the departure from the policy of appeasement
initiated at
Munich. An entirely new situation has arisen. In
suppressing
Czechoslovakia, the German Government has openly
disclosed
annexationist ambitions hitherto concealed. Where
will they
stop on that road, along which the material power
they have
acquired and the intoxication of success are driving
them?
In any case it is essential that we should carry our
effort
of reorganization to the highest point and proceed
to the
industrial mobilization of the country
.................... 100
81 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, March 19
The Minister for Foreign Affairs approves the action
of the
French Ambassador in Berlin in rejecting Herr von
Weizs„cker's contention that M. Bonnet had declared
to Herr
von Ribbentrop that Czechoslovakia could no longer
form the
subject of any exchange of views. This contention is
contra-
dicted by the very fact that the German Government
has been
the object of several approaches on the part of the
French
Government, on the question of the guarantee of the
Czecho-
slovak frontiers, and that replies have been
received from
the German Government
..................................... 107
82 M. PAYART_Moscow, March 19
The Government of the U.S.S.R. protests to the
German Govern-
ment against the annexation of Czechoslovakia; it
sees in
it a new danger to peace
.................................. 108
[XV]
Part Four
The German-Polish Crisis
(March 27-May 9, 1939)
83 M. DE LA TOURNELLE_Danzig, March 27
The German Government is carrying on with the Polish
Govern-
ment conversations aiming at the return of Danzig to
the
Reich. These conversations seem unlikely to succeed
...... 109
84 M. DE LA TOURNELLE_Danzig, March 27
This news is confirmed by the Commissioner for
Poland ..... 109
85 M. DE MONTBAS_Berlin, March 28
In Berlin it is declared that it is intended to
pursue the
settlement of the Danzig question exclusively by
friendly
means in the spirit of the 1934 agreement
................. 109
86 M. DE VAUX SAINT-CYR_Berlin, March 30
Polish circles in Berlin regard the situation as
very serious.
Between Berlin and Warsaw there do not appear to
have been any
negotiations in the full sense of the word; to the
enquiries
made by Herr von Ribbentrop, bearing, in particular,
on the
return of Danzig to the Reich and on the
establishment of a
motor road and a railway of an extra-territorial
character
in the Corridor, the Polish Government is understood
to have
replied in the negative. The possibility of a Putsch
at Dan-
zig cannot be ruled out
................................... 110
87 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, March 30
Herr von Ribbentrop has expressed to the Polish
Ambassador
in Berlin a desire that Poland should bring her
policy in
relation to the U.S.S.R. in line with that of
Germany...... 112
88 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, March 31
The French Government gives its approval to a
statement which
the British Government proposes to make and under
the terms
of which both would assist the Polish Government if
Poland,
before the conclusion of the consultations now in
progress,
should be the object on the part of the Reich of an
attack
threatening her independence
.............................. 112
89 STATEMENT BY MR. CHAMBERLAIN_London, March 31
A statement to this effect is made by Mr.
Chamberlain in the
House of Commons
.......................................... 113
90 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, April 1
The German menace arouses the patriotism of the
Polish
nation
.................................................... 114
91 M. DE LA TOURNELLE_Danzig, April 5
Hitler's followers in Danzig had prepared a Putsch
for March
29. It will be difficult to restrain their
activities hence-
forth. The recent crisis in German-Polish relations,
more-
over, has only increased the state of confusion
which has pre-
vailed in the Free City for several months past
........... 114
92 M. DE VAUX SAINT-CYR_Berlin, April 5
In Berlin it is considered certain that the Fhrer
will in
any case demand the return of Danzig to the Reich
......... 117
[XVI]
93 M. DE VAUX SAINT-CYR_Berlin, April 6
At the same time that he has resolved to settle the
Danzig
problem "one way or another," Herr Hitler is
probably about
to launch an offensive against the morale of France
and
Britain and will seek to stir up dissension between
the two
Powers
.................................................... 118
94 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, April 7
The German Press accuses Poland of making herself
the satel-
lite of Great Britain in a policy of aggression
against Ger-
many
...................................................... 120
95 M. DE VAUX SAINT-CYR_Berlin, April 8
To Herr von Weizs„cker, who is reported to have
asked him
for explanations about the Polish military measures,
M.
Lipski, Polish Ambassador in Berlin, is reported to
have
replied that they were justified by the recent
movements of
German troops
............................................. 120
96 M. DE VAUX SAINT-CYR_Berlin, April 10
No decisive conclusion is reported to have been
reached in
Berlin, where the success of a maneuver of
intimidation is
still counted upon
........................................ 121
97 M. DE VAUX SAINT-CYR_Berlin, April 11
The wavering of German policy in the Danzig affair
reveals
the fact that the Reich hesitates to commit itself
to a con-
flict in which it would have to reckon, in the East
as well
as in the West, with formidable adversaries
............... 121
98 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, April 12
Colonel Beck has presented the Anglo-Polish
agreement to
the German Government as a re-insurance contract in
no way
aimed at the encirclement of Germany
...................... 123
99 EXTRACT FROM A STATEMENT BY M. DALADIER_Paris, April
13
M. Daladier, in a statement, recalls and confirms
the gua-
rantee given by France to Poland
.......................... 124
100 M. DE VAUX SAINT-CYR_Berlin, April 13
In Berlin it is claimed by some that an amicable
settlement
may be expected, by others that a break with Warsaw
and with
London is imminent
........................................ 124
101 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, April 15
Herr von Moltke, German Ambassador in Poland, who
should have
returned to Warsaw on April 13, has not yet come
back to his
post
...................................................... 125
102 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, April 17
The German tactics consist in trying to shatter the
nerves
of the Poles by the multiplicity and persistency of
false
reports concerning the slightest incident
................. 125
103 M. DE VAUX SAINT-CYR_Berlin, April 24
While M. Lipski resumed the direction of his
Embassy in Ber-
lin more than a week ago, Herr von Moltke has not
yet rece-
ived orders to return to Warsaw
........................... 126
104 M. DE LA TOURNELLE_Danzig, April 25
It is said in Danzig that the Reich will now give up
the
idea of the territorial annexation of the Free City,
but
will demand a customs union
............................... 126
105 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, April 28
Herr Hitler informs the Reichstag of the proposals
which he
has made to Poland concerning the settlement of the
Danzig
question, and denounces the German-Polish pact of
1934 .... 127
[XVII]
106 M. LON NOEL, Warsaw, April 29
Chancellor Hitler's speech denouncing the German-
Polish
agreement of 1934 has caused no surprise in Poland,
where
the Minister for Foreign Affairs is studying the
German
memorandum handed to him by the German ambassador
......... 128
107 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, April 29
The incidents to which Herr von Weizs„cker drew the
atten-
tion of Sir Nevile Henderson appear to be of minor
impor-
tance and seem moreover to have been engineered by
the
Germans. The Polish population is calm and the
Polish Govern-
ment prudent
.............................................. 129
108 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, April 29
Herr Hitler's harangue appears as a speech for the
defence
rather than for the prosecution. It must none the
less be
borne in mind that the Fhrer refuses to participate
in any
pacific organization of Europe, and in consequence
we
should continue our armament policy and aim at the
closest
collaboration with our allies
............................. 129
109 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, April 29
The German memorandum to Poland is merely a
translation in
diplomatic style of Herr Hitler's speech; it urges
the Govern-
ment of Warsaw to enter into conversations but
contains a
menace. The margin of possible concessions is narrow
...... 131
110 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, April 29
The German-Polish pact was founded on an ambiguity;
it as-
sured for the Poles the stability of their frontiers
and the
maintenance of the status quo at Danzig for ten
years; but
it did not for the Germans exclude the possibility
of revi-
sion. The Poles now know where they stand with Herr
Hitler . 131
111 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, April 29
Contrary to the statements of Herr Hitler, it
appears that
the German Government never proposed to Poland the
prolonga-
tion of the 1934 pact nor the guarantee of
Slovakia's inde-
pendence
.................................................. 132
112 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, April 29
In putting the question of Danzig in the foreground,
Herr
Hitler expects that France and Great Britain will
consider
it too small a matter to justify Polish resistance.
But the
problem is in fact infinitely more important; it is
a ques-
tion of knowing what will be Poland's attitude in
the event
of a general conflict
..................................... 132
113 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, April 30
The reactions of the French Press to Herr Hitler's
speech
have frustrated the calculations of the German
Government
which hoped to create division among us. And in fact
the
Germans are not wrong when they claim that Danzig is
in
itself only a secondary question; the enslavement or
inde-
pendence of Europe is at stake in the issue now
joined .... 133
114 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, April 30
On three separate occasions the German Government is
report-
ed to have proposed co-operation with Warsaw against
the
U.S.S.R.
.................................................. 135
115 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, May 2
The Polish Ambassador in Berlin has been struck by
the
milder tone of Herr Hitler's speech, which he
attributes to
Franco-British firmness
[XVIII]
On the other hand he considers that the reply of his
Govern-
ment ought to be very cautious in order to frustrate
the ob-
vious maneuver of making use of it to excite German
opin-
ion
....................................................... 135
116 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, May 2
Germany has not changed. Despite the agreement of
1934 the
Third Reich has remained as hostile to Poland as the
Germany
of Bismarck and of the Hohenzollerns
...................... 136
117 M. LON NOEL-Warsaw, May 3
Summary of the development of the question of
national
minorities in Germany and Poland; difficulties
arising from
their contiguity have been to some extent the
dominant factor
in German-Polish relations
................................ 139
118 M. CORBIN_London, May 3
Aggravated symptoms of ill humour in the National-
Socialist
Government. Herr von Ribbentrop, receiving Sir
Nevile Hender-
son, gives way to a display of anger against Poland
....... 142
119 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, May 4
Herr von Ribbentrop now appears convinced that Great
Britain
and France will come to the help of Central or
Eastern
Europe; at the same time he does not believe they
will move
for Danzig
................................................ 142
120 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, May 5
Replying to Herr Hitler, M. Beck makes a statement
in the
Diet in which he declares the firmness of Poland's
policy .. 143
121 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, May 6
The Polish memorandum has been transmitted to
Berlin. This
document recalls that the Reich has not replied to
the
counter-proposals of March 26, 1939, and appears to
imply
that it rests with the German Government to take the
initi-
ative in resuming conversations
............................ 144
122 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, May 6
The Polish memorandum alludes particularly to the
speech
delivered by Herr Hitler on February 20, 1938, in
which he
expressed his satisfaction with the then existing
state of
German-Polish relations
................................... 144
123 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, May 7
Herr Hitler remains determined to recover Danzig,
but will
probably mark time in order not to have to fight
France and
Great Britain. He may draw nearer to Russia
............... 145
124 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, May 9
The German-Polish conflict seems temporarily at a
standstill.
The method of direct pressure having failed, the
National-
Socialist leaders will perhaps have recourse to
indirect
pressure. Whatever means they have to employ, they
are deter-
mined to establish German hegemony in Europe. It is
therefore
not a matter of knowing whether one should, or
should not,
fight for Danzig; what does matter is for France and
Britain
to be resolved to prevent a new Nazi coup and to
apply a
brake to National-Socialist expansion while there is
still
time
...................................................... 150
125 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, May 9
The general impression is that Europe will continue
to enjoy
a respite of comparative calm, during which the Axis
Powers
will strive through the medium of propaganda and
diplomacy
to defeat the determination of London and Paris to
oppose
any further attempts at aggression
........................ 155
[XIX]
Part Five
The Danzig Question
(May 15-August 19, 1939)
I
The Militarization of the Free City
(May 15-June 30)
126 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, May 15
German propaganda claims that the risk of war is due
to
Polish obstinacy over the question of Danzig. It
does not
add that from the commercial, naval and military
point of
view, Danzig commands access to Poland and that
Germany,
once mistress of the Free City, would have Poland at
her
mercy
..................................................... 159
127 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, May 22
Herr von Ribbentrop appears to contemplate a
partition of
Poland dependent upon a German-Russian agreement; he
would
not appear to be the only one of this opinion in
Germany.
Herr Hitler, however, would seem to be reluctant for
ideo-
logical reasons to come to an understanding with the
U.S.S.R., aimed ultimately at the destruction of the
British
Empire against which Herr von Ribbentrop harbours a
personal
grudge. Thus Germany will exploit every setback in
the negotia-
tions now in progress between Britain, France and
Russia .. 162
128 M. LON NOEL-Warsaw, May 25
The German Government has not yet lost all hope of
attaining
its ends by eventually exhausting the vigilance of
France
and Great Britain
......................................... 164
129 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, May 25
Incidents are occurring on the Polish-Danzig
frontier. The
most serious to date took place at Kalthof, a Polish
Customs
station, which has been pillaged by S.A. men, one of
whom
has been killed
........................................... 165
130 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, May 30
These incidents, cleverly exploited, will enable
Germany to
raise an out cry against Polish persecution, to
proclaim that
conditions are becoming unbearable for Germans, to
announce
that it is her duty to protect them; in brief, to
begin a
maneuver similar to that which succeeded in the case
of
Czechoslovakia, and which ought to be unmasked
............ 168
130 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, May 31
Poland adopts a conciliatory attitude over the
Kalthof inci-
dent and takes care not to envenom the discussion
already
in progress in the Danzig Senate
.......................... 169
132 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, June 1
The prevailing view at the Wilhelmstrasse appears to
be that
if Poland does not yield, Herr Hitler's future
action will
be determined by the outcome of the Anglo-Russian
negotia-
tions. Hence the Ambassadors of France and Great
Britain in
Berlin emphasize to their respective Governments the
urgency
of concluding the Anglo-Franco-Russian agreement
.......... 170
133 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, June 7
The Notes delivered by the Danzig Senate to the
Polish High
Commissioner following the Kalthof incident reveal
the tac-
tics of the Government of the Free City, which
consist in
pursuing a policy of systematic sabotage of the
rights of
Poland
.................................................... 172
[XX]
134 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, June 11
An increased infiltration of German military
elements is
further noted in the Free City; the Polish
authorities do
not seem to be disturbed by this
.......................... 174
135 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, June 13
The impression in Berlin is that Herr von Ribbentrop
consid-
ers the Danzig affair no more than a detail in the
whole
Polish problem which is now in question in its
entirety. The
Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Reich is
understood to
have given up the idea of an understanding with the
U.S.S.R.,
which is now very tactfully handled by the Nazi
leaders in
their speeches, he is only awaiting the outcome of
the Anglo-
Franco-Russian conversations
............................. 175
136 M. DE LA TOURNELLE_Danzig, June 14
In Danzig, a violent Press campaign against Poland
........ 176
137 M. DE LA TOURNELLE_Danzig, June 16
The German Press campaign continues
....................... 177
138 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, June 20
Dr. Goebbels at Danzig makes two speeches in which,
after
emphasizing the German character of Danzig, and
criticizing
Poland and Great Britain severely, he declares the
determin-
ation of his Government to recover the Free City
.......... 178
139 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, June 20
In an interview with the French Ambassador in
Berlin, Herr
von Weizs„cker seems to expect an easing of the
present
tension. At the same time he pretends to maintain
that the
chances of entering into conversations likely to
lead to a
d‚tente would not be increased by the conclusion of
a
Franco-Anglo-Russian pact
................................. 181
140 M. LON NOEL-Warsaw, June 20
The staff of the German Embassy in Warsaw talk and
spread
rumours to the effect that Herr Hitler will settle
the
Danzig affair as he himself sees fit; they mention
the
Corridor also, and even Upper Silesia
..................... 182
141 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, June 21 The French Ambassador in
Warsaw
gives details of the position taken up by Poland;
this
country would not be opposed to modifications in the
statute
of Danzig; but will not consent to its annexation by
the
Reich. The Poles would be willing to give the
Germans all
transit facilities through the Corridor, but will
not admit
the extra-territoriality of these transit roads
........... 183
142 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, June 22 Poland continues
absolutely calm
and proceeds with the necessary preparations for her
defence. Her leaders are trying to gain time, and
postpone a
conflict which the majority do not however believe
it will
be possible ultimately to avoid
............................ 183
143 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, June 22
In diplomatic circles in Berlin a crisis over Danzig
is con-
sidered inevitable before the end of the year;
moreover the
German claims now extend to the Corridor and Silesia
...... 184
144 M. DE LA TOURNELLE_Danzig, June 23
In Danzig the population is surprised by the
repercussions
abroad, provoked by Dr. Goebbels' speech in the Free
City on
June 17. Many regret
[XXI]
it should be believed that they gave their assent to
a rev-
ision of the statute of Danzig, during a
demonstration in
which it was in fact, their duty to take part
............. 186
145 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, June 27
The German leaders may contemplate having the Free
City pro-
claimed part of the Reich by the Danzig Senate; this
would
provoke Polish counter-measures making it possible
to repre-
sent the Poles as the aggressors. It would be
advisable to
forestall this maneuver by making it clear that any
violent
action originating in Danzig itself, and which
Poland consid-
ered essential to resist, would automatically bring
France
and Great Britain to her assistance
....................... 186
146 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, June 27
The militarisation of Danzig continues and will soon
consti-
tute a threat to the Corridor. When the Poles will
no longer
be able to remain inactive under this threat,
Germany will
declare their attitude provocative, and denounce
them as
aggressors. This maneuver is seriously disturbing
the
Poles
..................................................... 189
147 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, June 29
The Minister for Foreign Affairs asks the French
Ambassador
in London to approach Lord Halifax with a request
that in
the speech he is to deliver on the evening of June
29, he
should give the leaders of the Reich clear warning
of the
common determination of the two Governments to
fulfill their
guarantee of assistance to Poland, whatever means
Germany
may adopt to conceal the real character of its
action under a
cloak of ambiguity
........................................ 190
148 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, June 30
Herr von Weizs„cker informs the French Ambassador in
Berlin
that Colonel Beck is believed, according to certain
indica-
tions, to be seeking the basis for a solution, but
at the
same time he attempts to establish a distinction
between the
attitude of Great Britain and the intentions of
France in
the event of a conflict
................................... 191
II
German Agitation Continued
(July 1-July 30)
149 NOTE BY THE MINISTER_Paris, July 1
The Minister for Foreign Affairs receives a visit
from Count
von Welczeck German Ambassador in Paris. He has
recently
seen Herr von Ribbentrop who considers that at any
moment
an incident could lead to war between Germany and
Poland.
He expresses regret that it should not have been
understood
that Germany must have a zone of influence in the
East. M.
Georges Bonnet in reply recalls, in particular, that
in the
course of his conversation with Herr von Ribbentrop,
he made
express reservations with regard to the relations of
France
with Poland and with the U.S.S.R. He assures him
that if
Germany sincerely desires peace, the danger of war
does not
exist. Mentioning the definite obligations
undertaken by
France with regard to Poland, he is anxious to leave
the
German Government in no doubt whatever as to the
attitude
of the French Government in the event of a conflict
....... 193
150 NOTE BY THE MINISTER_Paris, July 1
In the course of an interview, the Minister for
Foreign Af-
fairs hands
[XXII]
Count von Welczeck a note explaining the French
attitude and
emphasizing the country's unshakable resolution to
fulfill
its obligations
........................................... 197
151 M. GAUQUI_Warsaw, July 3
Youths belonging to the "Hitler Jugend" crossed the
Polish
frontier and were arrested; after representations
from the
German Embassy in Warsaw, the Polish Minister for
Foreign
Affairs has ordered their release
......................... 198
152 M. DE LA TOURNELLE_Danzig, July 3
The Polish Government has decided to observe great
caution
and not for the time being to oppose the military
measures
in progress at Danzig
..................................... 198
153 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, July 4
Herr von Weizs„cker seeks to reassure the French
Ambassador
in Berlin. However, as the military preparations at
Danzig
continue, M. Coulondre believes that the State
Secretary at
the Wilhelmstrasse is in the first place making
every effort
to lull the watchfulness of the Western Powers
............ 199
154 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, July 4
The Polish Ambassador in Berlin remains convinced
that the
German Government is testing the Allies' power of
resistance,
but that it will not embark on a general war over
Danzig .. 200
155 M. GARREAU_Hamburg, July 4
Economic circles in Hamburg believe that if the
Anglo-Franco-
Russian negotiations are not rapidly concluded, a
German-
Russian pact will be, which would increase the risk
of
aggression by the Reich against Poland, and, in
consequence,
of a general conflagration
................................ 201
156 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, July 6
The Military Attach‚ to the French Embassy in Warsaw
is under
the impression that Poland will go to the extreme
limit of
patience with regard to the militarisation of Danzig
...... 202
157 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, July 6
M. Beck informs the French Ambassador in Warsaw that
Poland
will not intervene so long as her vital interests
are not
affected. He adds that unless the progress of events
is too
rapid to allow the necessary time, the Polish
Government
will submit any proposed action to preliminary
consultation
with the British and French Governments
................... 202
158 M. LON NOEL' Warsaw, July 6
M. Beck hopes the Press of the Western Powers will not
give
overmuch space to the news about Danzig, so as not
to play
into the hands of the German Propaganda Ministry
.......... 203
159 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, July 9
A pamphlet circulated by the Danzig Senate proves
that the
German claim to the Free City is by no means the
limit of
the German claims
......................................... 203
160 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, July 10
The militarisation of the Free City is being
methodically
carried out; differences between Polish nationals
and Danzig
authorities occur incessantly, the great majority of
the
population desires the maintenance of the status quo
and
appears to be terrorised. The situation recalls that
which
existed in Austria before the Anschluss
................... 204
161 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, July 11
According to a responsible person in the confidence
of the
Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Reich, Herr
Hitler is
displeased with Herr von
[XXIII]
Ribbentrop for having involved him in the Danzig
affair.
The German Press campaign is in fact displaying more
discre-
tion. The firmness of the Franco-British attitude is
under-
stood to have caused surprise and embarrassment in
Berlin.
The attempt at intimidation having failed, the
leading cir-
cles of the Reich would seem to be ready to try
persuasion
by declaring that Danzig would be Germany's last
claim. This
is a maneuver against which French and British
public opin-
ion should be put on its guard
............................ 208
162 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, July 13
In a conversation with the French Ambassador in
Berlin, Herr
von Weizs„cker expresses his displeasure with regard
to the
communication from the French Minister for Foreign
Affairs
to Herr von Ribbentrop; he complains further of the
attitude
adopted publicly by Mr. Chamberlain in the Danzig
affair.
His language tends to prove that the German
Government is
impressed by the firmness displayed by the Western
Powers.
The positions taken up by Paris and London are now
clearly
understood in Berlin, and M. Coulondre considers
that, in
so far as it depends on the French Government it
would be
an advantage to keep silent about Danzig
.................. 211
163 HERR VON RIBBENTROP_Fuschl, July 13
Herr von Ribbentrop replies by a personal letter to
the note
handed by M. Georges Bonnet to Count von Welczeck
on July 1.
After disputing the point that the reservations made
by the
French Foreign Minister on December 6 concerning the
rela-
tions between France and third powers, could apply
to French
relations with Poland, he makes the following
observations:
(1) Germany denies France the right to interfere in
her
spheres of vital interest; (2) Any violation of
Danzig terri-
tory by Poland, or any Polish provocation
incompatible with
the prestige of the Reich, will be answered
forthwith by the
advance of German forces, and the annihilation of
the entire
Polish army; (3) The threat contained in the French
note and
its reference to French assistance to Poland can in
no way
impress the Fhrer. If things are such that the
French Govern-
ment desires war, it will find Germany ready for it
at any
moment
.................................................... 213
164 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, July 13
The French Ambassador in Berlin reports abnormal
military
activity in German territory. The measures which
have been
taken will allow of rapid concentration. Everything
is hap-
pening as though the German army were to be ready
for any
emergency after the beginning of August
................... 215
165 DE SEGUIN_Warsaw, July 19
Polish Government circles are reacting strongly to a
report
that Herr Hitler contemplates settling the Danzig
question
by having himself proclaimed President of the Senate
of the
Free City
................................................. 219
166 DE LA TOURNELLE_Danzig, July 20
According to Herr Forster, Gauleiter of Danzig, Herr
Hitler,
though not renouncing his claims, does not intend to
have
recourse to war to realize them
........................... 220
167 DE SEGUIN_Warsaw, July 20
The conversations between General Ironside and
Marshal Rydz-
Smigly and M. Beck reveal that in the event of
German inter-
vention in Danzig (Anschluss, military occupation,
etc.),
the Polish attitude will be systematically cautious
in the
extreme
................................................... 220
168 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, July 21
The Minister for Foreign Affairs replies by a
personal let-
ter to the one
[XXIV]
he received from Herr von Ribbentrop. The German
Government
could never have presumed that France would renounce
her
interests in Eastern Europe. In their conversation
on Decem-
ber 6 the Minister had reminded Herr von Ribbentrop
of
France's treaties with the U.S.S.R. and Poland. The
Reich
Minister for Foreign Affairs had even replied that
the Franco-
Polish treaty could not in any way interfere with
German-
Polish relations, which were excellent. The fact
that one of
the requests made to Herr von Ribbentrop on December
6 dealt
with the common guarantee to be given to
Czechoslovakia was
alone proof that France did have interests in
Eastern Europe.
On January 30 Herr Hitler was still congratulating
himself
on the state of German-Polish relations; if these
have deter-
iorated since, France is in no way responsible. The
French
Government would like to see Poland and Germany
reach an
understanding, but it has contracted definite
obligations
towards Poland which it will fulfill. The Minister
for Foreign
Affairs cannot allow it to be said that France would
be
responsible for a war on account of having honoured
her
signature
................................................. 221
169 M. DE SAINT-HARDOUIN_Berlin, July 21
Herr Hitler would finally appear to be convinced
that France
and Britain are resolved to stand by their word to
Poland,
and that he would risk provoking a general war if he
pressed
his Danzig claims too far
................................. 224
170 M. DE SAINT-HARDOUIN_Berlin, July 22
A desire to gain time is discernible in Nazi
circles.
Nevertheless, the plan to recover Danzig remains
intact,
and the German army is continuing its preparations
with a
view to attaining a fairly advanced degree of
mobilisation
by the middle of August
.................................. 225
171 M. DE SAINT-HARDOUIN_Berlin, July 25
If certain more reassuring signs are to be seen in
the pol-
itical field, indications of a military order are
still
disturbing. France and Great Britain must therefore
avoid
giving Herr Hitler any impression of weakening in
their
resolution
................................................ 227
172 M. DE LA TOURNELLE_Danzig, July 25
According to Herr Forster, Herr Hitler will wait
until as
long as may be necessary in order to bring about a
peaceful
settlement of the Danzig question
......................... 234
173 M. DE SAINT-HARDOUIN_Berlin, July 27
The d‚tente thought to be observed in Berlin is
doubtless
more apparent than real. The problems of the
Corridor and
Upper Silesia are brought up in current
conversations ..... 235
174 M. DE SAINT-HARDOUIN_Berlin, July 30
The Press in its turn discusses the problem of the
Corridor
and even discusses the problem of the structure of
Poland . 237
The Polish Resistance and the German Press Campaign (August
1-19)
175 M. DE LA TOURNELLE_Danzig, August 1
The Danzig Senate, having left unanswered the
protests of the
Polish Government concerning the Customs inspectors,
Poland
takes reprisals of an economic character
................. 237
[XXV]
176 M. DE SAINT-HARDOUIN_Berlin, August 1
Echoing the Danzig newspapers the German Press
attacks the
Polish Customs inspectors. The leaders of the Reich
seem to
be continually wavering, and at the same time open
to temp-
tation, and general opinion in Berlin agrees in
considering
that the second fortnight of August will very
critical ... 239
177 M. DE SEGUIN_Warsaw, August 2 The Polish Government's
measures
of retaliating with regard to Danzig show that
Warsaw, being
confronted with Nazi activities in the Free City has
decided
not to remain passive indefinitely
........................ 242
178 M. DE LA TOURNELLE_Danzig, August 3
The attitude adopted by Poland in response to the
difficul-
ties experienced by the Customs inspectors in
carrying out
their duties is arousing great feeling in Danzig
.......... 243
179 M. DE SEGUIN_Warsaw, August 3
In order to stop the contraband traffic in arms the
Polish
Government three years ago created a special body of
frontier
guards in addition to the original Customs
inspectors; it
would not refuse to merge these two corps on
condition that
the Customs control should in the future be
effective ..... 243
180 M. DE SAINT-HARDOUIN_Berlin, August 3
In Berlin, the period of hesitation is over.
Everything
concurs to persuade the German people that they are
menaced
and at the same time that they are invincible. War
psychosis
reappears; military preparations are accelerated.
More than
ever the tone of the Press calls for vigilance
............ 244
181 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 6
A new incident concerning the Polish Customs
inspectors oc-
curred on August 4 in Danzig territory. With it a
new element
makes its appearance: in fact though the Polish
Government
took no action following the remilitarisation of the
Free
City, confronted with the menace of an attack on its
rights
in Customs matters, its attitude is finally fixed.
Germany
now knows how far it can go in its "nibbling"
enterprise .. 245
182 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 7 Definition of the legal
condi-
tions under which Poland could be entrusted with the
defence
of Danzig
................................................. 247
183 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 7 The Danzig Senate informs
the Po-
lish Commissioner that it is ready to discuss the
questions at
issue in the Customs dispute. In this attitude M.
Beck sees
a retreat of the Nazi elements in Danzig and an
encouragement
to persist in the policy of firmness
...................... 249
184 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 7
The German claims go far beyond Danzig and bear
equally upon
the Corridor and on other territories. This is
openly avowed
in the German propaganda pamphlet entitled:
"Danzig_What is
at stake?"
................................................ 250
185 M. DE SAINT-HARDOUIN_Berlin, August 8
The dispute over the Polish Customs inspectors
reveals that
Poland, by her firmness, has scored a point. Berlin
has been
so put out of countenance that the German Press has
stopped
saying anything about it. Marshal Rydz-Smigly's
powerful
speech at Cracow, opposing force with force, has,
however,
raised a storm of threats
................................. 252
[XXVI]
186 M. DE SAINT-HARDOUIN_Berlin, August 8
Two days later the German Press has seized upon the
events
of Danzig to raise the cry of Polish provocation
.......... 254
187 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 8
Poland had hitherto submitted to everything in
Danzig and
the Nazis have made the most of it. This time, faced
with
determination to resist, -they have become
conciliatory. But
the margin of concessions which Poland is still
prepared to
make is now so narrow that from now on any
incautious act
might well have the most serious consequences
............. 255
188 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 10
According to Herr Forster, Herr Hitler is incensed
by cer-
tain articles in the Polish Press
......................... 255
189 M. DE SAINT-HARDOUIN_Berlin, August 10
The campaign against Poland has been resumed in
Berlin with
increased violence. Herr Forster, following his
interview
with Herr Hitler, is to make a speech at Danzig,
which ac-
cording to German circles will be vehement
................ 256
190 M. DE SAINT-HARDOUIN_Berlin, August 12
German opinion is increasingly nervous. The date
always in-
dicated by the French Embassy in Berlin as that at
which the
German army would be ready has now arrived. It seems
that
capitulation by the Democracies without war is
expected. The
adjournment of the Nuremberg Congress if announced,
would
indicate the possibility of immediate action
.............. 259
191 M. DE SAINT-HARDOUIN_Berlin, August 12
German propaganda makes use of the alleged exactions
inflic-
ted upon the Germans by the Poles in an attempt to
create
"atmosphere," which recalls the campaigns it
conducted at
the time of the Sudeten affair. The French Charg‚
d'Affaires
in Berlin outlines the arguments which the wire less
could
broadcast in reply to this campaign
....................... 260
192 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 12
An article by Dr. Goebbels gives further proof of
Germany's
lust for conquest
......................................... 261
193 M. LON NOEL-Warsaw, August 15
Text of the letters exchanged on August 4 and 7
between the
Polish Commissioner and the Danzig Senate concerning
the
Polish Customs inspectors
................................. 262
194 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 15
Herr von Weizs„cker expresses a pessimistic view of
the
development of the situation, M. Coulondre declares
unequiv-
ocally that if one of the Allies, France, Britain,
or Poland,
were to be attacked, the two others would
automatically be
found at its side. From this interview, he concludes
that
unwavering firmness is essential, that our military
forces
must be maintained on a level with Germany's, and
that the
conclusion of the agreement with the U.S.S.R. should
be
hastened
.................................................. 264
195 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 15 German military
preparations are
being speeded up; a vast mobilisation scheme faces
the civil-
ian population; the concentration of troops is not
yet com-
pleted, but this could be done in a few days. The
campaign
against Danzig has been resumed and Poland is now
put on
trial as was Czechoslovakia in 1938
....................... 269
[XXVII]
196 M. LON NOEL-Warsaw, August 16
None the less M. Beck adopts a conciliatory
attitude in
the Danzig dispute
........................................ 274
197 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 17 The German Press opens a
new
chapter in its anti-Polish campaign; it alleges that
a pog-
rom has been started against the Germans in Poland.
The ob-
ject of this maneuver is to excite passions at home,
and
give rise to a belief abroad in intolerable Polish
provoca-
tion
...................................................... 274
198 M. ROGER CAMBON_London, August 18
The French Charg‚ d'Affaires in London reports that
the
British Ambassador in Berlin has had an interview
with the
State Secretary at the Wilhelmstrasse in the course
of which
the latter showed himself particularly aggressive
and even
brutal towards Poland
..................................... 276
199 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 18
The situation becoming increasingly tense, it is
above all
important to keep abreast of Germany in military
prepara-
tions; it is necessary at the same time to bring the
Russian
affair to a satisfactory conclusion at the earliest
possible
moment
.................................................... 277
200 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 18
The French Ambassador in Berlin is more and more
struck by
the similarity between the German campaign against
Poland
and that conducted in September 1938 against
Czechoslovakia;
the military preparations, however, are far more
advanced . 278
201 M. ROGER CAMBON_London, August 19
The conversations which Herr von Weizs„cker has had
with M.
Coulondre and Sir Nevile Henderson give the
impression of a
"friendly warning," concerning the imminence of a
German-
Polish conflict
........................................... 280
202 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 19
Polish communiqu‚ draws attention to the
persecutions suf-
fered by the Poles in Germany, that are reported to
reach
considerable proportions
.................................. 280
Part Six
The International Crisis
(August 20-September 3, 1939)
The German Will to Aggression
(August 20-22)
203 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 20
The officials of the Reich Ministry for Foreign
Affairs con-
sider that Herr Hitler is determined to settle the
Danzig
question before September 1
............................... 281
204 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 20
The same officials declare that war is inevitable;
they do
not believe, on the other hand, in British military
interven-
tion in favour of Poland
.................................. 281
205 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 21
The concentration of the German army has begun. The
French Am-
[XXVIII]
bassador in Berlin considers it necessary and urgent
that
France on her side should take appropriate measures,
he con-
iders this in our best interest from both the
military and
the political point of view
............................... 282
206 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 21
The Pat Agency denies reports invented by the Reich
propa-
ganda service on the subject of the "terror" of
which the
German minority in Poland is alleged to be the
victim ..... 283
207 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 21
German troop movement towards the East allows of no
further
doubt that the concentration of forces is in
progress ..... 283
208 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 21
Following a report transmitted under reserve, action
against
Poland is to take place during the night of August
22-23, it
is to be accompanied by a gesture towards the Czech
provinces,
which will be generous in appearance in that the
restoration
of a limited measure of independence will be offered
them.
Herr Hitler will remain on the defensive in the West
...... 284
209 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 21
The Military Attach‚ at the French Embassy in Berlin
consid-
ers that the German concentration of forces will be
com-
pleted by August 23 or 24
................................. 285
210 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, August 21
The Minister for Foreign Affairs asks the French
Ambassador
in Warsaw to make certain that the Polish Government
is
taking steps to frustrate the German maneuver by
which
they allege that the German minority in Poland is
subjected
to persecution
............................................ 285
211 M. GARREAU_Hamburg, August 22
The German Government, it is believed, hopes to
overcome all
Polish resistance by a lightning military attack
before the
end of August
............................................. 266
212 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 22
Orders have been given to the Polish Press to
refrain, at
least for several days, from any attack against the
Reich . 286
213 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 22
Amongst the German General Staff action against
Poland in
the very near future is considered certain
................ 287
II
Mr. Chamberlain's Message and Herr Hitler's Reply
(August 23-26)
214 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 23
Sir Nevile Henderson leaves by air for
Berchtesgaden, bear-
ing a message from Mr. Chamberlain for Herr Hitler
........ 288
215 M. DE LA TOURNELLE_Danzig, August 23
In Danzig a number of Polish railwaymen are
arrested, and
Polish schools requisitioned for military purposes
........ 288
216 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 23
Herr Woermann acquaints the French Ambassador in
Berlin with
the message presented by Mr. Chamberlain to Herr
Hitler, and
with the latter's reply
.................................. 288
[XXIX]
217 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 24
Sir Nevile Henderson is convinced he has left no
possible
doubt in Herr Hitler's mind of Great Britain's
resolution.
The Fhrer has, however, informed him that his
patience is
exhausted. Were a single new incident against a
German to
occur in Poland, he "would march." The British
Ambassador
in Berlin considers that the only hope of at least
putting
off the fatal day of reckoning would lie in an
immediate
contact between Warsaw and Berlin
......................... 289
218 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, August 24
The French Government will insist firmly that the
Polish
Government should not take military action in the
event that
the Senate of the Free City proclaims Danzig part of
the
Reich
..................................................... 290
219 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 24
In view of the vast scale of the German military
prepara-
tions the Polish Government brings a large part of
its army
to mobilisation strength
.................................. 290
220 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 24
The Polish Ambassador in Berlin has been instructed
to ask
for an interview with Herr von Weizs„cker in order
to remind
him that the Government of Warsaw have always shown
them-
selves prepared to open discussions under normal
conditions,
and point out that in this respect their attitude is
un-
changed
................................................... 291
221 M. ROGER CAMBON_London, August 24
In his reply to Mr. Chamberlain, Herr Hitler
attempts to make
Great Britain responsible for the existing
situation: without
Britain's unconditional assurance to Poland, the
latter would
not have refused to negotiate on questions of vital
interest
to the Reich, such as the German city of Danzig and
the assoc-
iated problem of the Corridor. Success or failure to
bring
about a peaceful settlement does not depend on the
Reich .. 291
222 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, August 24
The Minister for Foreign Affairs enjoins the French
Ambassa-
dor in War saw to recommend the Polish Government to
refrain
from replying by any military action should Danzig
be pro-
claimed part of the Reich, and to point out, at the
same time,
that this attitude is one of expediency, the
adoption of which
could in no way restrict Poland's liberty of
judgment in the
event of military action by the Reich
..................... 293
223 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 24
German-Polish incidents are becoming more frequent
owing to
German provocation
........................................ 294
224 M. DE LA TOURNELLE_Danzig, August 24
Because of the claims made by the Danzig Senate,
Poland
breaks off the Customs negotiations
....................... 294
225 M. DE LA TOURNELLE_Danzig, August 24
The Senate, by a decree of August 23, has conferred
upon
Herr Forster the title of Chief of State
.................. 295
226 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 24
The French Ambassador in Warsaw recommends the
Polish Govern-
ment not to take, without previous consultation with
the
French Government any initiative which could bring
about ir-
reparable consequences
.................................... 295
[XXX]
227 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 24
The French Ambassador in Warsaw reiterates his
recommenda-
tions of prudence to M. Beck, who expresses his
complete
agreement
................................................. 295
228 M. FRAN€OIS-PONCET_Rome, August 24
The American Ambassador in Rome has handed His
Majesty the
King of Italy a message from President Roosevelt
requesting
the Sovereign to do all in his power to bring about
peaceful
settlement
................................................ 296
229 M. DE SAINT-QUENTIN_Washington, August 24
President Roosevelt has addressed to Herr Hitler and
M.
Moscicki two messages entreating them to bring the
dispute
to a peaceful conclusion
.................................. 296
230 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 24
M. Lipski has been received by Marshal Goering, who
seems
to have given him a cordial reception, but to have
avoided
giving political significance to the interview
............ 297
231 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 24
The Polish Government proposes to send a letter to
the Danzig
Senate, reserving its judgment on the appointment of
Herr
Forster as head of the Danzig State
....................... 297
232 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 24
Berlin official circles consider that the German-
Russian Pact
will have for its first consequence the partition of
Poland,
whose capitulation, more over, is anticipated
............. 297
233 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 25
M. Beck informs the French Ambassador in Warsaw, who
has ap-
proached him as instructed by the Minister for
Foreign Af-
fairs that the Polish Government will continue to
display
completely unruffled composure
........................... 298
234 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 25
Incidents continue to occur in Danzig. Following the
arrest
of the Polish railwaymen, the Polish Government
reserves the
right to take reprisals, which would, however, be of
an ad-
ministrative and economic nature only
..................... 299
235 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 25
Numerous incidents on the Polish-German frontier
.......... 299
236 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 25
General Faury also recommends Marshal Rydz-Smigly to
give
very strict instructions, so that Polish troops in
the fron-
tier zone should observe the utmost self-restraint
........ 300
237 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 25
German nationals commit several acts of aggression
on Polish
territory
................................................. 300
238 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 25
Marshal Rydz-Smigly points out to General Faury that
he has
seen through the German maneuver attempting to trick
the
Poles into committing some incautious act
................. 301
239 M. CHARLES-ROUX_Rome, August 25
His Holiness Pope Pius XII expresses to His Majesty
the King
of the Belgians his appreciation of the declaration
made by
Leopold III in the name of the Oslo group of States
....... 301
[XXXI]
240 M. DE LA TOURNELLE_Danzig, August 25 At Danzig, new
artillery
batteries are brought to the seaboard, while young
ma brought
in by lorry from East Prussia are sent at once to
jumping-
off positions
............................................. 301
241 M. DE LA TOURNELLE_Danzig, August 25
The Danzig Senate has received from the Polish
Government a
note protesting against the appointment of Herr
Forster as
Head of State
............................................. 302
242 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 25 Herr Hitler sends for
the French
Ambassador in Berlin to ask him to transmit a
statement to
M. Daladier. He reiterates his desire to avoid a war
with
France, and complains vehemency of the Polish
attitude. M.
Coulondre, in his reply, reminds him of the French
attitude 302
243 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, August 25
The French Government replies favourably to the
appeal made
by His Majesty the King of the Belgians in the name
of the
representatives of the Oslo group of States
............... 305
244 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 25
President Moscicki, in a telegram addressed to His
Majesty
the King of the Belgians, states that, in the Polish
view,
the surest guarantee of peace lies in the settlement
of inter-
national differences by the method of direct
negotiation
based on mutual respect for each other's rights and
interests
................................................. 305
245 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 26
Herr Hitler informs Sir Nevile Henderson that he
agrees to
make a last attempt to save peace. The British
Ambassador in
Berlin leaves by air for London to transmit the
Fhrer's pro-
posals to the British Government
.......................... 306
III
M. Daladier's Letter and Herr Hitler's Reply(August 26-27)
246 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 26 The French Ambassador in
Berlin
thinks that Herr Hitler might he willing to agree to
settle
the question of the minorities by an exchange of
populations
similar to the one recently effected in the Tyrol.
Sir
Nevile Henderson and M. Lipski share this belief.
M.
Coulondre suggests that the Poles should take the
initiative
and approach the Fhrer within forty-eight hours
.......... 307
247 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 26
The Polish Government confirms to the Ambassador of
France
in Warsaw that it will discuss any plans with France
and
Great Britain before making any important decision
........ 308
243 M. COULONDRE-Berlin, August 26
Herr Hitler's proposals, which Sir Nevile Henderson
is to
put before London for consideration, contain certain
new
elements; serious dangers will none the less have to
be
avoided; moreover, negotiations could not begin
before all
threat of force were set aside
............................ 305
244 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, August 26
The Minister for Foreign Affairs transmits
immediately to
the French Ambassador in Warsaw the suggestion
concerning a
possible exchange of
[XXXII]
populations, with a request that he should urge the
Polish
Government to accept it
................................... 309
250 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 26
Official circles absolutely refuse to accept
President Roos-
evelt's message
........................................... 309
251 M. DE DAMPIERRE_Ottawa, August 26
Mr. Mackenzie King, Prime Minister of Canada, sends
an ap-
peal to Herr Hitler, Signor Mussolini, and M.
Moscicki ... 310
252 M. LON NOEL Warsaw, August 26
The French Ambassador in Warsaw has submitted to the
Polish
Government the suggestion of a possible exchange of
popula-
tions
..................................................... 310
253 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, August 26
The Minister for Foreign Affairs transmits to the
French
Ambassador in Berlin a letter from M. Daladier
addressed to
Herr Hitler, replying to the latter's message.
Recalling once
more the French attitude, he insists that a last
attempt at
a peaceful settlement between Germany and Poland
should be
made
...................................................... 311
254 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, August 26
The British Ambassador in Warsaw has received
instructions
that, in the event of conversations taking place
between
the German and Polish Governments, he should propose
the
appointment of neutral observers in the parts of
Poland
inhabited by German minorities. The French
Ambassador in
Warsaw is invited to support his British colleague
in making
this suggestion
........................................... 312
255 M. LON NOEL-Warsaw, August 26
The Polish Government points out to the French
Ambassador in
Warsaw that the murders of Germans in Poland, to
which Herr
Hitler drew the attention of M. Coulondre on August
25,
were never committed
...................................... 313
256 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 26
The German Press, making a pretext of a Polish raid
on Danzig
territory, enlarges on its accusations against
Poland ..... 313
257 M. CORBIN_London, August 26 The British Cabinet,
informed by Sir
Nevile Henderson of Herr Hitler's proposals, is
preparing to
reply to the Fhrer. It will, in its communication,
point
out in particular that a general discussion, if it
is to
take place, could have no better preface than a
peaceful
settlement of the German-Polish quarrel
................... 314
258 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 26
The Polish Government is prepared to countenance the
sugges-
tion concerning the exchange of populations
.............. 315
259 M. CORBIN_London, August 26
The French Ambassador in London notes that in the
course of
Herr Hitler's interview with Sir Nevile Henderson,
the
British Ambassador had made no more than an allusion
to a
possible exchange of populations, which Herr Hitler,
more-
over, did not, as it seems, take up
....................... 316
260 M. CORBIN_London, August 26
Herr Hitler did not inform Sir Nevile Henderson
whether it
would he possible to revert to the programme he had
put for-
ward in April, which dealt with the question of
Danzig and
that of a motor road through the Corridor
................. 316
[XXXIII]
261 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 27
The French Ambassador in Berlin reports that Herr
Hitler
has refused to consider the proposal advanced by M.
Daladier
as a contribution towards a peaceful settlement of
the German-
Polish dispute
............................................ 317
262 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 27
Herr Hitler insists that M. Daladier's letter and
the reply
he will make to it be kept secret
......................... 317
263 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 27
M. Coulondre considers that his approach to Herr
Hitler
strengthened the latter's belief that France is
prepared to
fight, and placed the Fhrer face to face with his
own
responsibility, showing him, at the same time, that
the
French Government remains in favour of a settlement
honour-
able to both parties
...................................... 319
264 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 27
M. Beck takes a less pessimistic view of the
situation .... 319
265 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 27
Fresh acts of unprovoked aggression by Germans are
taking
place in increasing numbers at many different points
on the
Polish frontiers
.......................................... 320
266 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 27
Herr von Ribbentrop hands M. Coulondre a copy of
Herr
Hitler's reply to M. Daladier; that reply is in the
negative
.................................................. 320
267 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 27
Herr Hitler's reply to M. Daladier s message:
"Danzig and
the Corridor must return to Germany."
..................... 321
268 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 27
Mobilisation appears to be general in Germany
............. 324
269 M. DE LA TOURNELLE_Danzig, August 27
Danzig is now a vast fortified camp
....................... 325
270 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, August 27
The French Government assures the Belgian Government
that it
will respect Belgium's neutrality in the event of a
war.
Only if Belgian neutrality were not respected by
another
Power could France, in self-defence, be led to
modify her
attitude
.................................................. 325
271 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, August 27
Our representatives abroad are informed of Herr
Hitler's
refusal to be a party to M. Daladier's proposal for
a peace-
ful settlement with Poland
................................ 326
IV
Herr Hitler Agrees to Hold Direct Conversations with Poland
(August 28-30)
272 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 28
The attitude of the Reich obliges Poland to call up
new
classes of reservists
..................................... 326
273 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 28
Marshal Rydz-Smigly gives orders to the Polish
troops not to
reply to any German provocation, but only to repel
flagrant
incursions into Poland
.................................... 326
[XXXIV]
274 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 28
German incursions into Polish territory are
increasing in
number
.................................................... 327
275 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 28
In an interview with M. Leon Noel on July 15, Herr
von
Moltke, the German Ambassador in Warsaw, admitted
that he
had not had to complain for some time past of
administrative
measures directed against Germans nor had he had
occasion to
raise questions of any other nature
....................... 327
276 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 28
Accusations of ill-treatment of Germans by the
Poles,
repeated by Herr Hitler, are pure calumny. The
German Ambas-
sador in Warsaw has, moreover, made no protest in
this
respect
................................................... 328
277 M. CORBIN_London, August 28
The British Government's reply to Herr Hitler
............. 328
278 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 28
M. is authorised to make indirect overtures with a
view to
a settlement of the minorities question by an
exchange of
populations
............................................... 331
279 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, August 28
The French Government inform the Grand Ducal
Government of
their intention to respect the inviolability of
Luxemburg
territory. Only in the event of that territory being
vio-
lated by another Power might they be led, in self-
defence,
to modify their attitude
.................................. 331
280 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 28
M. Beck confirms to the British Ambassador in Warsaw
that
Poland remains prepared to enter into direct
conversations
with Germany
.............................................. 332
281 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 28
A Polish gang leader, whose activities are now being
denoun-
ced by the German Government, has been dead for two
years . 332
282 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 28
Herr Hitler assesses the German population of Poland
at an
excessive figure. The German Ambassador in Warsaw
himself
admitted that the numbers of the national minorities
in Ger-
many and in Poland are approximately equal
................ 333
283 BELGIAN GOVERNMENT'S NOTE_Brussels, August 28
The Brussels Government acknowledges receipt of the
French
Government's communication concerning its
undertaking to
respect Belgian neutrality. Should Belgium be the
object of
unprovoked aggression she would appeal to France
.......... 333
284 M. BARGETON_Brussels, August 28
Offer of the good offices of Their Majesties the
Queen of
the Netherlands and the King of the Belgians
............. 334
285 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 29
Herr Hitler, when he received the British
Government's reply
took an uncompromising attitude. He demanded all the
Cor-
ridor, with territorial modifications in Upper
Silesia .... 334
286 M. HENRI CAMBON_Luxemburg, August 29
The Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg
thanks the
French Government for its communication
................... 335
[XXXV]
287 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 29
The French Ambassador in Berlin transmits further
informa-
tion on Herr Hitler's interview with Sir Nevile
Henderson.
The Fhrer has expressed the wish to study the
British Govern-
ment's communication before giving his reply
.............. 335
288 M. CORBIN_London, August 29
The French Ambassador in London reports the feeling
of pes-
simism in London following Herr Hitler's interview
with Sir
Nevile Henderson
.......................................... 336
289 M. DE LA TOURNELLE_Danzig, August 29
In Danzig the bullying of Poles continues
................. 337
290 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 29
The French Ambassador in Warsaw gives fresh details
reveal-
ing the unfounded character of the Reich's
allegations con-
cerning the treatment of German minorities in Poland
...... 337
291 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 29
In handing Sir Nevile Henderson his reply to the
British
Government Herr Hitler points out to the British
Ambassador
that he will accept direct conversations with Poland
on con-
dition that a Polish plenipotentiary arrives in
Berlin the
following day, August 30. At the same time he
restates his
demands for Danzig and for the Corridor
................... 338
292 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, August 29
The French Government welcomes the offer of their
good of-
fices made by Their Majesties the King of the
Belgians and
the Queen of the Netherlands
.............................. 339
293 M. CORBIN_London, August 29
The French Ambassador in London gives some further
informa-
tion as to Sir Nevile Henderson's interview with
Herr Hitler.
The latter in particular added Silesia to his
claims, and
let it be understood that he would not negotiate
with Poland
unless he were certain beforehand of the Polish
Government's
acceptance of all his demands
............................. 339
294 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, August 30
The Minister for Foreign Affairs communicates to the
French
Ambassador in Warsaw an account of Sir Nevile
Henderson's
interview with Herr Hitler. He remarks that for the
first
time Herr Hitler has agreed to enter into direct
conversa-
tions with Poland
......................................... 340
295 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, August 30
The Minister for Foreign Affairs requests the French
Ambas-
sadors in Berlin and Warsaw to examine, with a view
to aver-
ting the incidents now becoming more frequent,
whether a
suggestion could be made to the German and Polish
Governments
for the withdrawal of their troops a few kilometres
on either
side of the frontier
...................................... 341
296 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 30
The French Ambassador in Berlin is of the opinion
that the
Polish Government, to show its good will, should
appoint a
plenipotentiary; for his part, however, he considers
that
this plenipotentiary might be, not M. Beck, but M.
Lipski,
who is on the spot
........................................ 341
297 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 30
The French Ambassador in Warsaw draws attention both
to the
scope of the demands put forward by the Reich, and
to their
lack of precision
......................................... 342
[XXXVI]
298 M. BARGETON_Brussels, August 30
The French Ambassador in Brussels has delivered the
French
reply to the offer of their good offices made by
Their
Majesties the Queen of the Netherlands and the King
of the
Belgians
.................................................. 343
299 M. CORBIN_London, August 30
The French Ambassador in London communicates to the
French
Government the text of Herr Hitler's reply to the
British
Government
................................................ 343
300 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 30
M. Coulondre considers that the Chancellor of the
Reich's
reply to the British Government is brutal, and more
like a
Diktat than an expression of willingness to
negotiate with a
sovereign State
........................................... 346
301 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 30
Agitation develops according to German plans;
terrorist acts
are committed by members of the German minority
........... 346
302 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 30
The German Press lets it be understood that the
Governments
of Berlin and Moscow have reached an agreement
concerning a
solution of the Polish problem
............................ 347
303 M. DE LA TOURNELLE.-Danzig, August 30
In Danzig incidents continue
.............................. 348
304 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, August 30
The French Ambassador in Warsaw is asked to support
the
d‚marche his British colleague is to make concerning
direct
German-Polish conversations
............................... 348
V
Italy's Suggestion for a Conference and German Maneuvering
to Bring About the Rupture of Negotiations
(August 31)
305 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 31
The French Ambassador in Warsaw has supported his
British
colleague's d‚marche; the Polish Government has
promised to
reply by August 31
........................................ 348
306 M. FRAN€OIS-PONCET_Rome, August 31
Count Ciano informs the French and British
Ambassadors in
Rome of an offer by Signor Mussolini to invite
Germany,
after agreement with France and Britain, to a
conference to
be held on September 5, the object of which would be
to ex-
amine the difficulties arising out of certain
clauses in the
Treaty of Versailles
...................................... 349
307 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 31
The Polish Government agrees to enter into direct
conversa-
tions with the German Government. M. Lipski is
invited to
ask for an audience at the Wilhelmstrasse in order
to re-
establish contact
......................................... 349
308_M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, August 31
The Minister for Foreign Affairs asks the British
Government
to make the Polish acceptance known to Berlin as
soon as they
have themselves been informed of it from Warsaw
........... 350
[XXXVII]
309 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 31
Repeated frontier incidents occur in conjunction
with acts
of terrorism in Poland
.................................... 350
310 M. CHARLES-ROUX_Rome, August 31
The French Ambassador to the Holy See transmits to
the French
Government a message from His Holiness Pius XII in
favour
of peace
.................................................. 351
311 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 31
The Polish Government, in its reply to the British
Government,
suggests the establishment of a provisional modus
vivendi in
Danzig, makes reservations pending more complete
information
as to the possibility of an international guarantee,
and
expresses the hope that, should it be able to enter
into
direct conversations with the Reich Government, it
may still
count on the good offices of the British Government
....... 351
312 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 31
Evident embarrassment is noticeable in Berlin, where
they
pretend to hope that the crisis will ultimately be
solved by
a compromise similar to the Munich Agreement, and
that active
military aid will be obtained from Russia
................. 352
313 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 31
At 1 p.m. M. Lipski, the Polish Ambassador in
Berlin,
requested an audience of the Reich Minister for
Foreign Af-
fairs. At 3 p.m. Herr von Weizs„cker asked him by
telephone
if he proposed to appear in the capacity of a
plenipotentiary
or as Ambassador. M. Lipski replied that he was
acting as
Ambassador, whereupon Herr von Weizs„cker told him
that he
would report to Herr von Ribbentrop. At 6.15 p.m.
the Polish
Ambassador has still received no reply from the
Reich Min-
ister for Foreign Affairs
................................. 353
314 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 31
M. Lipski is received by Herr von Ribbentrop at 7.45
p.m.,
and informs him of his Government's willingness to
proceed
by direct conversations
................................... 353
315 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 31
The French Ambassador in Berlin summarises the
events of
August 31. At 9 a.m. Sir Nevile Henderson warned M.
Coulondre that, according to information he had
received,
the Germans will launch an attack against Poland if
the
Polish Government has not before noon accepted the
proposal
to send a plenipotentiary. The night before, at
midnight,
Herr von Ribbentrop had read him the German plan for
a set-
tlement announced in Herr Hitler's reply to Great
Britain,
but had refused to hand him the text. M. Coulondre,
after an
interview with M. Lipski, telephones to Paris to
make en-
quiries about the Polish Government's reply, he
learns that
it is in the affirmative; M. Lipski does, in fact,
receive
such instructions from Warsaw; after asking for an
audience
at 2 p.m., not before 7.45 p.m. is he allowed to
hand his
communication to Herr von Ribbentrop
..................... 354
316 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 31
The Poles are deprived of practically all their
prerogatives
in Danzig. The Polish Press reports the acts of
victimiza-
tion to which they are subjected, but without making
capital
out of them
............................................... 356
317 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 31
At 9.15 and at 9.25 p.m. Herr von Weizs„cker hands
the
British and French Ambassadors, for the guidance of
their
Governments, a Press
[XXXVIII]
communiqu‚ and a German plan for the settlement of
the
German Polish problem, a plan which the German
Government
considers the Poles to have rejected although it
was, in
actual fact, never submitted to them
...................... 356
318 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, August 31
The French Ambassador in Berlin unmasks a maneuver
intended
to make Poland appear hostile to any peaceful
endeavour just
at the moment she has agreed to negotiate
................. 357
319 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, August 31
Communications between Berlin and Warsaw have been
interrup-
ted, so the only Polish information of the
development of
the situation is that received through the German
wireless,
which is trying to conceal the rupture of the
negotiations.
Warsaw speculates as to whether this is a final
attempt at
blackmail or an act preliminary to the opening of
hostili-
ties
...................................................... 357
VI
The Outbreak of Hostilities
(September 1)
320 M. CORBIN_London, September 1
A telegram delayed in transmission from the British
Ambas-
sador in Warsaw gives further details of the Polish
Govern-
ments reply to Great Britain. From this it appears
in part-
icular that the Polish Government is prepared to
take part
in any exchange of views with the Reich Government
on the
basis of the British proposals
............................ 358
321 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, September 1
The wireless broadcast setting out the German claims
proves
that Herr Hitler is trying to get out of the
negotiations
to which he had agreed; furthermore, it follows from
this
that the Polish plenipotentiary, if he had come to
Berlin,
would not have been allowed to discuss, but
requested to
subscribe to the Fhrer's will
............................ 359
322 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, September 1
The German attack began at 4 a.m.
......................... 360
323 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, September 1
The Germans are attacking on all frontiers. Danzig
has pro-
claimed itself part of the Reich
.......................... 360
324 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, September 1
The Reichstag meet for one hour to hear a speech by
Herr
Hitler
.................................................... 360
325 PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT'S APPEAL_Washington, September 1
President Roosevelt's appeal to Great Britain,
France,
Italy, Germany and Poland asks them to undertake not
to bomb
civilian populations or open towns from the air
........... 364
326 M. WALTER STUCKI_Paris, September 1
The Swiss Minister in Paris notifies the French
Government
of the Swiss Government's declaration of neutrality
....... 364
327 M. GEORGES BONNET._Paris, September 1
The French Government inform the Italian Government
of their
favourable reply to the Italian proposal to call a
conference
................................................ 365
[XXXIX]
328 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, September 1
The French Ambassador in Berlin fears that his
earlier com-
munications may have been delayed in transmission,
and re-
peats his report of the events of August 31
............... 366
329 M. CORBIN_London, September 1
The Polish Ambassador in London, on the ground that
his
country is the victim of aggression, requests the
applica-
tion of the British guarantee
............................. 367
330 M. CORBIN_London, September 1
A British communiqu‚ exposes the inaccuracy of the
German
version of the development of the negotiations
............ 367
331 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, September 1
The aggression is flagrant, aerial bombardments have
begun.
M. Lipski has been instructed to ask for his
passports .... 369
332 M. FRAN€OIS-PONCET_Rome, September 1
The French reply has been handed to Count Ciano
........... 369
333 FRENCH GOVERNMENT'S NOTE_Paris, September 1
The French Government replies favourably to
President Roose-
velt's appeal concerning aerial bombardments
.............. 370
334 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, September 1
The French Government takes note of the Swiss
Confederation's
declaration of neutrality
................................. 370
335 M. CORBIN_London, September 1
The British Government informs the German Government
that if
the Reich does not suspend its aggressive action or
show wil-
lingness to withdraw its troops from Polish
territory Great
Britain will fulfill her obligations towards Poland
....... 371
VII
The Franco-British d‚marche in Berlin, and the Entry into
War
(September 1-3)
336 M. CORBIN_London, September 1
The so-called German proposals to Poland were not
officially
communicated to the British Government; Herr von
Ribbentrop
had only read them hurriedly to Sir Nevile
Henderson, and
refused to let him have the text
.......................... 372
337 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, September 1
M. Coulondre is instructed to associate himself with
Sir
Nevile Henderson's approach to the German Government
...... 372
338 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, September 1
The French Ambassador in Warsaw is instructed to ask
the
Polish Government if it would agree to take part in
the
conference proposed by the Italian Government
............. 373
339 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, September 1
German Charg‚ d'Affairs in Warsaw has asked for his
pass-
ports
..................................................... 373
[XL]
340 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, September 1
The Minister for Foreign Affairs informs all
diplomatic
representatives of the recent events which throw
into relief
the aggressive character of German action against
Poland .. 373
341 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, September 1
Herr Hitler's speech to the Reichstag has been
received with
only moderate enthusiasm; the population of Berlin
appears
dismayed. The Fhrer has avoided using the word
"war" ..... 375
342 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, September 1
The Slovak Minister in Warsaw has handed to the
Polish Govern-
ment, "in the name of the Slovak people," a letter
protesting
against the German aggression
............................. 375
343 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, September 1
The Polish Government maintains that, since Poland
is already
the victim of unprovoked aggression, it is now no
longer a
question of calling a conference, but of what common
action
should be taken by the Allies to resist it
................ 376
344 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, September 1
At 10 p.m., following immediately on the British
Ambassador,
the French Ambassador in Berlin carries out the
d‚marche he
had been instructed to make. Herr von Ribbentrop
replies to
him that there has been no German aggression against
Poland,
but that it is the latter country which has attacked
Germany 376
345 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, September 1
Text of the communication handed by M. Coulondre to
Herr
von Ribbentrop
............................................ 377
346 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, September 1
French Government thanks the Sovereign Pontiff for
his
message
................................................... 378
347 Paris, September 1
A Havas telegram, communicated to the Press on the
night of
September 1-2, announces that the French Government,
ap-
proached on August 31 by the Italian Government with
a
suggestion for a settlement of outstanding European
difficul-
ties, gave the Italian Government a favourable reply
...... 378
348 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, September 2
Germany, to throw the responsibility for these
events on to
Poland, denies the truth of the Polish Government's
statement
that it was never informed of the proposals which it
is ac-
cused of having rejected. In support of this thesis,
Germany
puts forward two facts: 1, on the night of August 30-
31 Herr
von Ribbentrop is stated to have read the text of
the German
proposals to Sir Nevile Henderson and commented on
them at
length; 2, on the evening of August 31 the Polish
wireless,
it is maintained, declared these proposals
unacceptable. The
truth of the matter is different: Herr von
Ribbentrop read
the German propositions very hurriedly to the
British Ambas-
sador and refused to let him have the text; 2, if
the Polish
wireless did make the declaration it is said to have
made,
this could only have referred to the drastic demands
made by
Herr Hitler on August 29. The Polish Government was
never
informed of the proposals broadcast on August 31 at
9 p.m.;
nor were they made known even to the British and
French Ambas-
sadors until after they had been broadcast. Herr von
Ribben-
trop, after keeping the Polish
[XLI]
Ambassador waiting until 7.45 p.m., did not breathe
a word to
him about them
............................................ 378
349 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, September 2
The German Air Force is causing many casualties
among the
Polish civilian population
................................ 380
350 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, September 2
Herr Hitler, following President Roosevelt's appeal,
has
informed Poland that aerial bombardment will be
confined to
military objectives, the Polish Government has
replied that
it has given identical orders, although German
bombardments
have already caused many casualties among the
civilian pop-
ulation
................................................... 381
351 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, September 2
Violent fighting in Poland on land and in the air
......... 381
352 M. FRAN€OIS-PONCET_Rome, September 2
The Italian Government, in spite of fresh
difficulties, would
still be prepared to intervene again on the lines of
its
original proposal for the calling of a conference
......... 381
353 M. LON NOEL_Warsaw, September 2
German aircraft continues to cause casualties among
the
civilian population
....................................... 382
354 M. CORBIN_London, September 2
The British Government considers that the existing
situation
cannot be allowed to continue, and is of the opinion
that
there can be no question of entering into any
negotiations
before Polish territory has been evacuated by German
troops 382
355 M. ALBERT LEBRUN, PRESIDENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC_
Paris September 2
Message from the President of the Republic to
Parliament .. 383
356 DECLARATION OF THE GOVERNMENT_Paris, September 2
Declaration read to the Chamber of Deputies by M.
Daladier,
President of the Council of Ministers, and to the
Senate by
M. Chautemps, Vice President of the Council of
Ministers .. 384
357 M. CORBIN_London, September 2
The forceful attitude of Mr. Chamberlain's Cabinet
corres-
ponds with the unanimous feelings of Parliament and
of the
entire British nation
..................................... 392
358 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, September 2
The Polish Ambassador in Berlin has now left Germany
...... 393
359 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, September 2
At 1.30 p.m. neither the French nor the British
Ambassador
has received a reply from the German Government
........... 394
360 M. FRAN€OIS-PONCET_Rome, September 2
At 2 p.m. Count Ciano reports to the French
Ambassador in
Rome that he has had Herr Hitler informed this
morning of
the Italian proposal for conference. The Fhrer has
not re-
jected this suggestion out of hand, but he would
like to
know if the French and British notes of September 1
were to
be characterised as an ultimatum, leaving him until
midday
on 1 September 3 to reply. Count Ciano then
telephoned per-
sonally to M.
[XIII]
Georges Bonnet, then to Lord Halifax, to inform them
of
Herr Hitler's questions. Both replied that the notes
had
not the character of an ultimatum, and that, with
regard to
the time limit, they would have to consult their
respective
Governments. Lord Halifax having added that, in his
opinion,
the evacuation of Polish territory by German troops
was in
any case necessary, Count Ciano observes that, in
his opin-
ion, there is little chance of obtaining this
............. 394
361 M. CORBIN_London, September 2
The Polish Ambassador in London informs the British
Govern-
ment of the progress of the German offensive, and
insists
upon the immediate entry into force of the British
guaran-
tee
....................................................... 395
362 M. CORBIN_London, September 2
Speeches by Lord Halifax in the House of Lords and
by Mr.
Chamberlain in the House of Commons
....................... 395
363 M. FRAN€OIS-PONCET_Rome, September 2
Count Ciano informs the French Ambassador in Rome
that he
does not consider himself in a position, in
conformity with
the wish expressed by Lord Halifax, to ask the
German Govern-
ment to withdraw its troops from Poland, M.
Daladier's
speech to the Chamber of Deputies, moreover, reveals
that
the French Government's attitude is identical with
that of
the British Government. Consequently, Count Ciano
telegraphs
to the Italian Ambassador in Berlin that unless the
German
Government is of a different opinion, the Italian
Government
does not think it should follow up the suggestion
which it
had previously made
....................................... 398
364 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, September 2
At midnight the Minister for Foreign Affairs
instructs the
French Ambassador in Berlin that the following day,
September
3, at midday, he should make a further approach to
the German
Government
................................................ 398
365 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, September 3
M. Coulondre is requested to go at midday to the
Wilhelm-
strasse and ask for the German Government's reply to
the com-
munication addressed to it on September 1. If this
reply is
in the negative the French Ambassador is to give
notice that
his country finds itself in consequence under the
obligation
of fulfilling its engagements towards Poland as from
Septem-
ber 3 at 5
p.m............................................. 399
366 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, September 3
M. Coulondre reports that he has carried out these
instruc-
tions
..................................................... 399
367 M. COULONDRE_Berlin, September 3
M. Coulondre states that the German Government's
reply is
in the negative
........................................... 400
368 M. GEORGES BONNET_Paris, September 3
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, in accordance with
The
Hague Convention of October 18, 1907, notifies all
Diploma-
tic Missions accredited to Paris that a state of war
exists
between France and Germany
................................ 401
369 FRANCO-BRITISH DECLARATION_Paris, September 3
The two Governments of France and the United Kingdom
affirm
their common intention of waging war humanely and
observing
international undertakings, limiting the use of, or
prohi-
biting certain weapons; they reserve their liberty
of action
in the event of their adversary not observing these
under-
takings
................................................... 402
[XLIII]
370 M. DALADIER_Paris, September 3
Text of the President of the Council of Ministers'
appeal
to the French nation
...................................... 403
Appendices
APPENDIX I
Franco-Polish Treaties of 1921 to 1925
............................ 407
APPENDIX II
Extract from the speech delivered to the Chamber of Deputies
by M.
Georges Bonnet, Minister for Foreign Affairs, January 26,
1939 .... 409
APPENDIX III
Telephonic communications of M. Georges Bonnet, Minister
for Foreign
Affairs, August 31 and September 1 and 2, 1939
.................... 412
[XLIV]
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