A.—l

leading up to the crisis, the German Government's reply demanded the arrival in Berlin of a Polish emissary with full powers during the course of the following day. The reply of the British Government is self-explanatory. It was communicated by His Majesty's Ambassador to the German Minister for Foreign Affairs at midnight on 30th August. Herr Von Eibbentrop's reply was to produce a long document which he read out rapidly in German. It was apparently the sixteen-point plan which the German Government have since published. When Sir Nevile Henderson asked for the text of these proposals, in accordance with the undertaking in the German reply of 29th August, Herr Von Eibbentrop asserted that it was now too late, as the Polish plenipotentiary had not arrived in Berlin by midnight, as had been demanded by the German Government in their communication of the previous evening. The Polish Government, on learning of these developments, informed His Majesty's Government during the afternoon of 31st August that they would authorize their Ambassador to inform the German Government that Poland had accepted the British proposals for negotiations. The Polish Ambassador in Berlin (M. Lipski) was not received by Herr Von Eibbentrop until the evening of 31st August. After this interview the German Government broadcast their proposals forthwith. M. Lipski at once tried to establish contact with Warsaw, but was unable to do so because all means of communication between Poland and Germany had been closed by German Government.

Approximate Coat of Paper.— Preparation, not given ; printing (750 copies), £22 109.

By Authority: E. V. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington.—l 939.

Price 6d.]

15