A.—l

encroachments m the Free City of Danzig due to the instigation of the Polish authorities; threatening demands in the nature of ultimata, varying only in degree, were addressed to that City. A closing of the frontier at first in the form of a measure of Customs policy, but extended later in a military sense affecting also traffic and communication, was imposed with the object of bringing about the political exhaustion and economic destruction of this German community. To this were added barbaric actions of maltreatment which cry to Heaven," and other kinds of persecution of large German national groups in Poland which extended even to the killing of many resident Germans or to their forcible removal under most cruel conditions. This state of affairs is unbearable for a Great Power. It has now forced Germany, after remaining a detached passive onlooker for many months, m her turn to take necessary steps for the safeguarding of justified German interests. And, indeed, the German Government can but assure the British Government in the most solemn manner that a condition of affairs has now been reached which can no longer be accepted or observed with indifference. The demands of the German Government are in conformity with the revision of the Versailles Treaty in regard to this territory which has always been recognized as being necessary—viz., return of Danzig and the Corridor to Germany, the safeguarding of existing German national groups in territories remaining to Poland. The German Government note with satisfaction that the British Government under the circumstances are in principle convinced that some solution must be found for the new situation which has arisen. They further feel justified in assuming that the British Government can have 110 doubt that it is a question now of conditions for the elimination of which there no longer remains days, still less weeks, but perhaps only hours. For in the disorganized state of affairs obtaining in Poland the possibility of incidents intervening, which it might be impossible for Germany to tolerate, must at any moment be reckoned with. While the British Government may still believe these grave differences can be solved by way of direct negotiation, the German Government, unfortunately, can no longer share this view as a matter of course. For they have made attempts to embark on such peaceful negotiations, but, instead of receiving any support from the Polish Government, they were rebuffed by the sudden introduction of measures of a military character in favour of the development alluded to above. The British Government attach importance to two considerations : (1) That the existing danger of an imminent explosion should be eliminated as quickly as possible by direct negotiation, and that (2) the existence of the Polish State in the form in which it would then continue to exist should be adequately safeguarded in the economic and political sphere by means of international guarantees. On this subject the German Government makes the following declaration : Though sceptical as to the prospects of a successful outcome, they are nevertheless prepared to accept the Fnglish proposal and to enter into direct discussions. They do so, as has already been emphasized, solely as the result of the impression made upon them by the written statement received from the British Government that they too desire a pact of friendship (freundschaft sabkommen) in accordance with the general lines indicated to the British Ambassador. The German Government desire in this way to give the British Government and the British nation a proof of the sincerity of Germany's intentions to enter into a lasting friendship with Great Britain. The Government of the Reich feel, however, bound to point out to the British Government that, in the event of a territorial rearrangement in Poland, they would no longer be able to bind themselves to give guarantees, or to participate in guarantees, without the U.S.S.R. being associated therewith. For the rest, in making these proposals the German Government have never had any intention of touching Poland's vital interests or questioning the existence of an independent Polish State. The German Government accordingly in these circumstances agree to accept the British Government's offer of their good offices in securing the despatch to Berlin of a Polish emissary with full powers. They count on the arrival of this emissary on Wednesday, 30th August, 1939. The German Government will immediately draw up proposals for solution acceptable to themselves and will if possible place these at the disposal of the British Government before the arrival of the Polish negotiator.

2—A. 1.

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