BRITISH WAR BLUE BOOK: CONTENTS.

SUMMARY OF CONTENTS

No.

Date.

Subject.

Page

GERMAN-POLISH AGREEMENT.

1

German-Polish Agreement, January 26, 1934

Text.

1

STATEMENTS MADE BY HERR HITLER SINCE THE GERMAN-POLISH AGREEMENT RECORDING HIS SATISFACTION AT THE IMPROVEMENT IN GERMAN-POLISH RELATIONS.

2

Herr Hitler, May 21, 1935

Reichstag speech

3

3

Herr Hitler, March 7, 1936

Reichstag speech

3

4

Herr Hitler, January 30, 1937

Reichstag speech

4

5

Herr Hitler, February 20, 1938

Reichstag speech

4

6

Herr Hitler, September 14, 1938

Speech at Nuremberg

5

7

Herr Hitler, September 26, 1938

Speech in the Sportpalast

5

8

Herr Hitler, January 30, 1939

Reichstag speech

6

DETERIORATION IN EUROPEAN SITUATION RESULTING FROM GERMAN ACTION AGAINST CZECHO-SLOVAKIA ON MARCH 15, 1939.

9

Prime Minister, March 17, 1939

Speech at Birmingham

6

10

Secretary for State for Foreign Affairs, March 20, 1939

Speech in the House of Lords

13

11

Prime Minister, March 23, 1939

Question and Answer in the House of Commons

23

12

Sir N. Henderson (Berlin) to Viscount Halifax, May 28, 1939

Interview with Field-Marshal Göring

24

GERMAN-POLISH DISCUSSIONS.

13

Herr Hitler, April 28, 1939

Extract from Reichstag speech

28

14

German Government to Polish Government, April 28, 1939

Memorandum denouncing the German-Polish Agreement of 1934

32

III

IV CONTENTS

No.

Date.

Subject.

Page

15

Polish Minister for Foreign, Affairs, May 5, 1939

Speech in Parliament

36

16

Polish Government to German Government, May 5, 1939

Memorandum replying to No. 14

42

ANGLO-POLISH AGREEMENT.

17

Prime Minister, March 31, 1939

Statement in the House of Commons announcing assurance given to Poland

48

18

Anglo-Polish Communiqué , April 6, 1939

Unilateral British assurance to Poland replaced by reciprocal assurances

49

19

Agreement of Mutual Assistance between the United Kingdom and Poland, August 25, 1939

Text

49

DEVELOPMENTS IN ANGLO-GERMAN RELATIONS.

20

Herr Hitler, April 1, 1939

Speech at Wilhelmshaven

52

21

Herr Hitler, April 28, 1939

Extract from Reichstag speech

63

22

German Government to His Majesty's Government, April 27, 1939

Memorandum denouncing the Anglo-German Naval Agreement

68

23

Viscount Halifax to Sir N. Henderson (Berlin), June 16, 1939

Conversation with the German Ambassador in London

70

24

His Majesty's Government to the German Government, June 23, 1939

Memorandum replying to No. 22

71

25

Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, June 29, 1939

Speech at Chatham House

78

DETERIORATION IN THE LOCAL SITUATION AT DANZIG.

26

President of the Danzig Senate to the Polish Commissioner-General, June 3, 1939

Polish Customs Inspectors

87

27

Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), June 11, 1939

Summary of reply to No. 26

89

V CONTENTS

No.

Date.

Subject.

Page

28

Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), June 27, 1939

Freicorps at Danzig; Customs disputes; Polish views on German plans

91

29

Mr. G. Shepherd (Danzig) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), June 28, 1939

Details of German military preparations at Danzig

92

30

Viscount Halifax to Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw) (telegram), June 30, 1939

Instructions to sound the Polish Government regarding developments at Danzig

93

31

Mr. G. Shepherd (Danzig) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), June 30, 1939

Further German military preparations at Danzig

94

32

Mr. Norton (Warsaw) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), July 1, 1939

Polish views in reply to No. 30

95

33

Mr. G. Shepherd (Danzig) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), July 1, 1939

German military preparations at Danzig and Königsberg

96

34

Mr. Norton (Warsaw) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), July 3, 1939

Views on Polish attitude towards a German coup at Danzig

97

BRITISH ATTITUDE TOWARDS DEVELOPMENTS IN DANZIG.

35

Prime Minister, July 10, 1939

Statement in the House of Commons

98

36

Sir N. Henderson (Berlin) to Viscount Halifax , July 15, 1939

Interview with German State Secretary

101

TEMPORARY EASING IN THE DANZIG SITUATION.

37

Mr. F. M. Shepherd (Danzig) Viscount Halifax (telegram), July 19, 1939

Interview between Herr Forster and the League of Nations High Commissioner

103

38

Viscount Halifax to Mr. Norton (Warsaw) (telegram), July 21, 1939

Instructions to approach Polish Government regarding No. 37

105

39

Mr. Norton (Warsaw) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), July 25, 1939

Conversation with M. Beck as instructed in No. 38

106

VI CONTENTS

No.

Date.

Subject.

Page

40

Mr. F. M. Shepherd (Danzig) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), July 25, 1939

Statement by Herr Forster that Danzig question could wait. Increased military movements

107

41

Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), July 31, 1939

Conversation with M. Beck

108

42

Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), August 2, 1939

Conversation with the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs

109

FURTHER DETERIORATION IN THE SITUATION AT DANZIG.

43

Mr. Norton (Warsaw) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), August 4, 1939

Polish intention to address note to Danzig Senate about Customs Inspectors

110

44

Mr. F. M. Shepherd (Danzig) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), August 4, 1939

Exchanges between the Polish Commissioner-General, the League of Nations High Commissioner and the President of the Senate

111

45

Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), August 9, 1939

Polish attitude towards the customs dispute

111

46

Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), August 10, 1939

Conversation with M. Beck regarding German Government intervention in the Danzig customs dispute

112

47

Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), August 10, 1939

Text of notes exchanged at Berlin between the German and Polish Governments referred to in No. 46

114

48

Sir N. Henderson (Berlin) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), August 16, 1939

Conversation with German State Secretary

115

49

Explanatory note

Herr Hitler's meeting with M. Burckhardt on August 11, 1939

119

50

Viscount Halifax to Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw) (telegram), August 15, 1939

Instructions to discuss situation with M. Beck

119

51

Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), August 15, 1939

Conversation with M. Beck as instructed in No. 50

120

VII CONTENTS

No.

Date.

Subject.

Page

TREATMENT OF GERMAN MINORITY IN POLAND.

52

Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), August 24, 1939

Refutation of the German press allegations of persecution

121

53

Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), August 26, 1939

German-Polish frontier incidents

123

54

Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), August 26, 1939

Polish denial of story that Germans had been killed at Lodz and Bielsko

124

55

Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), August 27, 1939

Reasons for German false accusations of ill-treatment of German minority

124

DEVELOPMENTS LEADING IMMEDIATELY TO THE OUTBREAK OF HOSTILITIES BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND GERMANY ON SEPTEMBER 3, 1939. [Part 1 of 3]

56

Prime Minister to German Chancellor, August 22, 1939

Attitude of His Majesty's Government towards the crisis

125

57

Sir N. Henderson (Berlin) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), August 23, 1939

Interview with Herr Hitler

127

58

Sir N. Henderson (Berlin) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), August 24, 1939

Further conversations with Herr Hitler

130

59

Sir N. Henderson (Berlin) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), August 24, 1939

Comment on underlined portion of Herr Hitler's reply in No. 60

131

60

German Chancellor to Prime Minister, August 23, 1939

Statement of views of German Government in reply to No. 56

132

61

German-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact, August 23, 1939

Text

135

62

Mr. F. M. Shepherd (Danzig) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), August 26, 1939

Appointment by Danzig Senate of Gauleiter Forster as Head of State of Free City of Danzig

136

63

Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), August 24, 1939

Polish note of protest and warning to the Danzig Senate as regards No. 62

137

VIII CONTENTS

No.

Date.

Subject.

Page

64

Prime Minister, August 24, 1939

Speech in the House of Commons

138

65

Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, August 24, 1939

Speech in the House of Lords

145

66

Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), August 24, 1939

Conversation with M. Beck

153

67

Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), August 24, 1939

Interview between Polish Ambassador in Berlin and Field-Marshal Göring

154

68

German Chancellor to Sir N. Henderson (Berlin) (verbal), August 25, 1939

Possibility of an Anglo-German understanding

155

69

Sir N. Henderson (Berlin) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), August 25, 1939

Comments on No. 68

158

70

Viscount Halifax to Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw) (telegram), August 25, 1939

Proposal for corps of neutral observers

160

71

Viscount Halifax to Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw) (telegram), August 26, 1939

Exchange of populations as a solution of German Minority problem

160

72

Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), August 27, 1939

M. Beck's views on Nos. 70 and 71

160

73

Viscount Halifax to Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw) telegram), August 28, 1939

Need for direct German-Polish discussions

161

74

His Majesty's Government to German Chancellor, August 28, 1939

Reply to Nos. 60 and 68

162

75

Sir N. Henderson (Berlin) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), August 28, 1939

Interview with Herr Hitler for the purpose of presenting No. 74

165

76

Sir N. Henderson (Berlin) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), August 29, 1939

Additional points in the conversation recorded in No. 75

169

IX CONTENTS

DEVELOPMENTS LEADING IMMEDIATELY TO THE OUTBREAK OF HOSTILITIES BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND GERMANY ON SEPTEMBER 3, 1939. [Part 2 of 3]

No.

Date.

Subject.

Page

77

Prime Minister, August 29, 1939

Speech in the House of Commons

169

78

German Chancellor to His Majesty's Government, August 29, 1939

Reply to No. 74

175

79

Sir N. Henderson (Berlin) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), August 29, 1939

Comment on two points in No. 78, i.e., German reply to British proposals for direct German-Polish negotiations and an international guarantee

178

80

Sir N. Henderson (Berlin) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), August 29, 1939

Comment on interview with Herr Hitler on August 29

179

81

Viscount Halifax to Sir N. Henderson (Berlin) telegram) August 30, 1939

Acknowledgment of No. 78. Unreasonableness of German request for immediate visit of a Polish plenipotentiary to Berlin

180

82

Sir N. Henderson (Berlin) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), August 30, 1939

Action taken on No. 81

180

83

Viscount Halifax to Sir N. Henderson (Berlin) (telegram), August 30, 1939

Interim reply to No. 78

181

84

Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), August 30, 1939

Views on method of conducting German-Polish negotiations

181

85

Viscount Halifax to Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw) (telegram), August 30, 1939

Suggestions tending to improve the situation

182

86

Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), August 30, 1939

Message from M. Beck regarding incidents and proposed British answer to Herr Hitler

182

87

Viscount Halifax to Sir N. Henderson (Berlin) (telegram), August 30, 1939

Instructions to inform German Government of renewed representations made in Warsaw

183

88

Viscount Halifax to Sir N. Henderson (Berlin) (telegram), August 30, 1939

Suggestion to be put to German Government about request for a Polish plenipotentiary

183

89

His Majesty's Government to German Chancellor, August 30, 1939

Reply to No. 78

184

X CONTENTS

DEVELOPMENTS LEADING IMMEDIATELY TO THE OUTBREAK OF HOSTILITIES BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND GERMANY ON SEPTEMBER 3, 1939. [Part 3 of 3]

No.

Date.

Subject.

Page

90

Viscount Halifax to Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw) (telegram), August 30, 1939

Instructions to communicate No. 89 to M. Beck and to ask for reply

185

91

Sir N. Henderson (Berlin) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), August 30, 1939

Conversation with Herr von Ribbentrop regarding to No. 85

187

92

Sir N. Henderson (Berlin) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), August 30, 1939

Interview with Herr von Ribbentrop at which the latter read out the German proposals

187

93

Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), August 31, 1939

Report of interview with M. Beck as instructed in No. 90

189

94

Viscount Halifax to Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw) (telegram), August 31 1939

Instructions for joint Anglo-French suggestion to the Polish Government to confirm to German Government their acceptance of principle of direct discussions

190

95

Viscount Halifax to Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw) (telegram), August 31, 1939

Suggestions for German-Polish discussions of any German proposals

190

96

Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), August 31, 1939

Conversation with M. Beck regarding Polish reply to No. 90

190

97

Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), August 31, 1939

Text of Polish reply to No. 90 confirming readiness for direct German Polish discussions

191

98

German Government to His Majesty's Government, August 31, 1939

Note containing German proposals now regarded by them as rejected

192

99

Viscount Halifax to Sir N. Henderson (Berlin) (telegram), August 31, 1939

Instructions to inform German government of Polish steps to establish contact

198

100

Viscount Halifax to Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw) (telegram), September 1, 1939

Instructions to speak to M. Beck about certain points in the Polish reply contained in No. 97

198

101

Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), September 1, 1939

Action on No. 100 rendered useless by German invasion

199

XI CONTENTS

No.

Date.

Subject.

Page

102

Sir N. Henderson (Berlin) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), August 31, 1939

Text of Polish note to German Government regarding direct discussions

200

103

Sir N. Henderson (Berlin) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), September 1, 1939

Action taken on No. 99

200

104

Explanatory Note upon the actual Course of Events

[blank]

200

105

Prime Minister, September 1, 1939

Speech in the House of Commons

202

106

Herr Hitler, September 1, 1939

Reichstag speech

207

107

Herr Hitler, September 1, 1939

Proclamation to the German Army

214

108

Herr Forster and Herr Hitler, September 1, 1939

Proclamation and exchange of telegrams

214

109

Viscount Halifax to Sir N. Henderson (Berlin) (telegram), September 1, 1939

Instructions to convey No. 110 to German Government

216

110

Viscount Halifax to Sir N. Henderson (Berlin) (telegram), September 1, 1939

Notification of intention to assist Poland unless German forces are withdrawn

216

111

Sir N. Henderson (Berlin) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), September 1, 1939

Interview with Herr von Ribbentrop in compliance with Nos. 109 and 110

217

112

Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), September 1, 1939

Conversation with M. Beck indicating desirability of British action to relieve pressure on Poland

218

113

Viscount Halifax to Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw), September 1, 1939

Conversation with Polish Ambassador recording facts of German invasion

219

114

Viscount Halifax to Sir N. Henderson (Berlin), September 1, 1939

Conversation with the German Chargé d'Affaires regarding the German invasion

220

115

Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), September 2, 1939

Request by M. Beck for information of allied assistance

221

116

Prime Minister, September 2, 1939

Speech in the House of Commons

221

117

Mr. Preston (Kovno) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), September 2, 1939

M. Burckhardt's account of his departure from Danzig

224

XII CONTENTS

No.

Date.

Subject.

Page

118

Viscount Halifax to Sir N. Henderson (Berlin) (telegram), September 3, 1939

Notification to German Government of existence of state of war unless German assurances are received by 11 a. m.

224

119

German Government to His Majesty's Government, September 3, 1939

Reply to No. 118

225

120

Prime Minister. September 3, 1939

Speech in the House of Commons

228

121

Herr Hitler, September 3, 1939

Proclamations to the German People and the German Army

230

ATTEMPTED MEDIATION BY OTHER STATES.

122

President of United States of America to King of Italy, August 23, 1939

Appeal for intervention in cause of peace

232

123

King of Italy to President of United States of America, August 30, 1939

Reply to No. 122

234

124

President of United States of America to Herr Hitler, August 24, 1939

Appeal for a peaceful solution

234

125

President of United States of America to President of Poland, August 24, 1939

Appeal for a peaceful solution

236

126

President Moscicki to President Roosevelt, August 25, 1939

Reply to No. 125

236

127

President Roosevelt to Herr Hitler, August 25, 1939

Text of No. 126 and further appeal

237

128

King of the Belgians, August 23, 1939

Broadcast appeal in the name of the Oslo Group of Powers

238

129

Viscount Halifax to Sir R. Clive (Brussels) (telegram), August 24, 1939

British reply to No. 128

240

130

French Government to King of the Belgians

French reply to No. 128

240

131

President Roosevelt to King of the Belgians, August 25, 1939

United States reply to No. 128

241

132

President of Poland to King of the Belgians, August 25, 1939

Polish reply to No. 128

241

133

Pope Pius XII to King of the Belgians

Papal reply to No. 128

242

XII CONTENTS

No.

Date.

Subject.

Page

134

Sir R. Clive (Brussels) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), August 28, 1939

Joint offer of mediation by King of the Belgians and Queen of the Netherlands

242

135

Viscount Halifax to Sir R. Clive (Brussels) and Sir N. Bland (The Hague) (telegrams), August 31, 1939

British reply to No. 134

242

136

French Government to King of the Belgians and Queen of the Netherlands

French reply to No. 134

243

137

Italian Government to Queen of the Netherlands and King of the Belgians

Italian reply to No. 134

243

138

Polish Government to King of the Belgians and Queen of the Netherlands

Polish reply to No. 134

243

139

The Pope, August 24, 1939

Broadcast appeal for peace

244

140

Viscount Halifax to Mr. Osborne (Holy See) (telegram), August 25, 1939

British reply to No. 139

246

141

Mr. Osborne (Holy See) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), August 31, 1939

Further appeal by the Pope

247

142

Viscount Halifax to Sir N. Henderson (Berlin) and Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw)(telegrams), August 31, 1939

Action on No. 141

247

143

Sir P. Loraine (Rome) to Viscount Halifax (telegram), September 4, 1939

Peace efforts of Italian Government

248

THE PRIME MINISTER'S BROADCAST TALK TO THE GERMAN PEOPLE ON SEPTEMBER 4, 1939.

144

Prime Minister to the German People, September 4, 1939

Text

249