Evening star., 1939-09-02
Refusal to Sacrifice
Britoin's Other Friends

Ncpiy Vi his ma dJeSty government
to the German Chancellor's COM
munication of August 20. 1899. This
reply was handed by Sir Neville
Henderson to Herr Won Ribbentrop
at midnight on August 30, 1899.
81. His majesty's government ap-
preciate the friendly reference in
the declaration contained in the re-
ply OF the German government to
the latter's desire for an Anglo
German understanding and to their
statement of the influence which
this consideration has exercised
upon their policy.
q. His majesty's government re-
peat that they reciprocate the Ger
man governments desire for i'm
proved relations. but it will be rec
ognized that they could not sacri-
flee interests of other friends in
order to obtain that improvement
They fully understand that the
German government cannot sacri-
f1ce Germany's vital interests but
the Polish government are in the
same position and his majesty S
government believe that vital inter-
ests of the two countries are not
incompatible.
g. His majesty's government note
that the German government accept
the British proposal and are pre-
pared to enter into direct discus
sions with the Polish government.
a. His majesty's government un-
derstand that the German govern
ment accept in principle the condi-
tion that any settlement should be
made the subject of international
guarantee. The question of who
shall participate in this guarantee
will have to be discussed further
and his majestys government hope
that, to avoid loss of time, the Ger
man government will take imme-
diate steps to obtain the assent of
the U. S. S. r. whose participation
IN a guarantee his majesty's gov
eminent have always assumed.
IS. His majesty's government also
note that the German government
accepts the position of the British
government as to Poland's vital in
terests and independence.
Is. His majesty's government must
make an express reservation in re-
gard to the statement of particular
demands put forward by the Ger
man government in an earlier pas
sage in their reply. They under
stand that the German government
are drawing up proposals for a solu-
tion. No doubt these proposals will
be fully examined during discus
sions. 1t can then be determined
how far they are compatible with
essential conditions which his ma
jesty's government have stated, and
which in principle the German gov
ernment have expressed their will
ingness to accept.
81. His majesty's government are
at once informing the Polish gov
ernment of the German govern
ment's reply. The method of con-
tact and arrangements for discus
sions must obviously be agreed with
all urgency between the German
and Polish governments. but in his
majesty's governments view it
would be impracticable to establish
contact so early as today.
IS. His majesty's government fully
recognize the need for speed in the
initiation of discussion and they
share the apprehensions of the
Chancellor arising from the prox-
unity of two mobilized armies stand
ing face to face. They would ac-
cordingly most strongly urge that
both parties should undertake that,
during negotiations, no aggressive
military movements will take place
His majesty's government feel con-
f1dent that they could obtain such
an undertaking from the Polish gov
ernment If the German government
would give similar assurances.
-. Further his majesty's govern
ment would suggest that the tenn
porary modus vivendi might be ar
ranged for Danzig, which might pre-
vent occurrence of incidents tending
to render German-Polish relations
moro diffic,11fo -