Evening star., 1939-09-02
British White Paper Charges Germany Didn't Tell Poles Of Demands

ernment have obligations to Poland
BY which they are bound and which
they intend to honor. They could
not, for any advantage offered
Great Britain, acquiesce in 4 settle
ment which put in jeopardy the In
dependence Of state to whom they
have given their guarantee.
u. In the opinion of his majesty's
government, reasonable solution OF
the differences between Germany
and Poland could and should be ef-
fected by an agreement between the
two countries on lines which would
include the safeguarding of Po-
lands essential interests, and they
recall that in the speech of 28th
April last the German Chancellor
recognized the Importance of these
interests to Poland. But, as was
stated by the Prime Minister in
letter to the German Chancellor OF
22d Agust, his majesty's government
consider it essential for the success
of the discussions which would pre-
cede agreement that it should be
understood beforehand that any set
tlement arrived at would be guar
anteed by the other powers. His
majesty's government would be
ready if desired to make their con-
tribution to the effective operation
of such a guarantee.
I'm the view of his ajesty's gov
ernment 1t follows that the next step
should be an initiation of direct
discussions between the German and
Polish governments on basis which
would include the principles stated
above, namely, safeguarding of Po-
lands essential interests and secur-
ing of a settlement by an interna-
tional guarantee. They have al
ready received definite assurance
from the Polish government that
they are prepared to enter into dis
cussions on this basis and his majes-
tvs government hope the German
government would for her part also
be willing to agree to this course.
II, as his majestys government hope,
such discussion led to an agreement
a way would be open to the nego-
tiation OF that wider and more COM
plete understanding between Great
Britain and Germany which both
countries desire.
IS. His majesty's government
agree with the German Chancellor
that one Of the principal dangers
in the German-Polish situation
arises from reports concerning the
treatment of minorities. The pres
ent state of tension, with its con-
comitant frontier incidents, reports
of maltreatment and infiammatory
propaganda. Is constant danger to
peace. 1t Is manifestly a matter of
the utmost urgency that all Incl
dents of the kind should be prompt
ly and rigidly suppressed and that
unverified reports should not be al
lowed to circulate in order that
time may be afforded, without
provocation on either side. for a full
examination of the possibilities of
settlement His majesty's govern
ment are confident that both gov
ernments concerned are fully alive
to these considerations.
"6. His majesty's government have
said enough to make their own at
titude plain in the particular mat
tiers at issue between Germany and
Poland. They trust that the Ger
man Chancellor will not think that
because his majesty's government
are scrupulous concerning their OBJ
legations to Poland that they are
not anxious to use all their influence
to assist achievement of a solution
which may commend itself both to
Germany and to Poland. That
such settlement should be achieved
seems to his majesty's government
essential, not only for reasons di-
rectly arising in regard to a settle
ment itself, but also because of
wider considerations of which the
German Chancellor has spoken
with such conviction.
81. 1t is unnecessary in the pres
ent reply to stress the advantage of
a peaceful settlement over a deci-
sion to settle the questions at issue
by force of arms. The results of a
decision to use force has been clear
ly set out in the Prime Minister'S
letter to the Chancellor of August
% and his majesty's government do
not doubt that they are as fully rec
ognized by the Chancellor as by
themselves.
"On the other hand, his majesty's
government, noting with interest
the German Chancellor's reference
in the message now under consid-
GRAFTON to the limitation of arma-
ments, believe that If a peaceful
settlement can be obtained the as
sistance of the world could conf
IDENTIFY be anticipated for practical
measures to enable the transition
from preparation for war to the
normal activities of peaceful trade
to be safely and smoothly effected.
"8. A just settlement of these
questions between Germany and
Poland may open the way to world
peace. Failure to reach it would
ruin hopes of better understanding
between Germany and Great Brit
ain and would bring the two coun-
tries into conflict and might well
plunge the whole world into war.
Such an outcome would be a calam-
ity without parallel in history"
Reply of Hitler Given
Henderson August -
The reply of the German Chan
cellor to the communication of Au-
gust %, 1899, from his majesty's
government.
This reply was handed Sir Neville
Henderson by Herr Hitler during