Evening star., 1939-09-01
September Morn!

ing some files today, apparently as a
precaution in preparation for pos
sible withdrawal from London. A
thin column of smoke appeared over
the embassy room and pieces OF
charred paper floated to the ground.
The British statement declared
Poland was fully justified in re-
fusing to submit to more exact
ing treatment than sis customary
even in the case Of peace terms
imposed on defeated power"
Creation of a war cabinet, in
Guiding members of the opposition
and, perhaps, such conservatives as
Winston Churchill and Anthony
Eden was forecast in political quar-
ters as an early step in the event
of an actual declaration of war.
Military War Measures.
Preparedness measures already
had been brought to a high peak
after what was interpreted in Of
flcial quarters as a virtual Ger
man ultimatum Tuesday that a
Polish envoy be in Berlin by
Wednesday with full powers to ne
gotiate a settlement
This explained yesterdays swift
measures, among them the COM
plete mobilization of the British
navy, the calling of additional army
and air force reserves and the de-
cision to remove children, women,
invalids and the aged from dan
gerous metropolitan areas today.
Lloyds of London, the insurance
house, announced without explaining
its action that it would close to-
morrow.
Numerous main subway stations
were ordered closed Immediately 80
that certain work may be done" "
This apparently indicated that anti
air raid measures were being taken.
Queen Elizabeth early in the aft
ernoon visited the headquarters of
the Women's Volunteer Service in
Westminster.
DR.. Kordt, the German Charge
d'Affaires, called at No. 10 Downing
StIceI AZ ~. "A a m.
Text Of British Statement.
The text of the authoritative Brit
ish statement:
1t is pointed out in official circles
that if the proclamation to the Ger
man people by Herr Hitler which
has already been announced should
mean as it would seem to mean that
Germany has declared war on Po-
land, 1t can be stated on the high
authority that Great Britain anC
France are inflexibly determined te
fulfill to the uttermost their obliga
tions to the Polish government.
The German account of the course
of the negotiations is of course
wholly misleading.
On August 10Th the German Chan
cellor informed the British Ambas-
sador that he expected Polish pleni-
potentiary to appear in Berlin by the
following day with full powers to
negotiate settlement.
He added that in the meantime he
hoped to elaborate the proposals. In
other words the Polish government
was expected to submit to the pro-
cedure imposed on the President oi
Czech-Slovakia and to dispatch ar
emissary to Berlin who was to ac-
cept terms, the character of which
was wholly known to the Polish gov
ernment.
Poles Naturally Refused.
The Polish government have MOI
unnaturally been unwilling to place
themselves in this humiliating posi-.
ton.
It is not customary even in thu
case of peace terms imposed on s
defeated power to demand tina
negotiators should not be allowed
to refer for instructions to theil
government.
1t is impossible to comment a
such short notice on the misleading
statements of the German govern
ment but the general attitude O.
his majesty's government may be
briefly defined as follows:
II the German government hat
been sincerely desirous of settling
the dispute by negotiations the,
would not have adopted this pro
cedure which has the character o
an ultimatum.
Poland Fully Justified.
They would on the contrary hav'
begun discussions with the Pohsl
government in accordance with th'
normal procedure of civilized gov
ernments in order to fix the plac'
and time for the opening Of negotia
tions.
The Polish government, in tn
opinion of his majesty's govern
ment, were fully justified in declin
ing to submit to the treatment which
the German government endeavoret
to impose on them as regards tn
terms now published which hav
never been hitherto communicate
to the Polish government.