 M. Coulondre, French Ambassador in Berlin, to Herr von Ribbentrop

Excellency,

According to instructions from the French Minister for Foreign Affairs, I have the honour to submit the following statement:

Early this morning, the German Chancellor issued a proclamation to the German army which gave clear evidence that he was just about to attack Poland.

Information which has reached the French Government and His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom goes to show that troops have crossed the Polish frontier and that attacks are now being made on Polish towns.

This being so, it would seem to the French and British Governments that by its action, (that is to say, an act of force of an aggressive character against Poland, threatening that country's independence), the German Government has brought about those conditions which call for the carrying out by the Governments of France and of the United Kingdom of their undertaking to Poland to come to her help.

As a consequence, I have to inform Your Excellency that, unless the German Government is prepared to give the French Government satisfactory assurances that the German Government has suspended all aggressive action against Poland and is ready promptly to withdraw its

[377]

forces from Polish territory, the French Government will unhesitatingly fulfill its obligations towards Poland.

You should inform the Sovereign Pontiff that the French Government, deeply alive to the thought that has inspired him, thanks him for his moving message.

The French Government have given their unreserved adherence to all the steps towards the maintenance of peace taken during these last days of August. It is their wish that these noble efforts may yet fulfill their purpose and allow a peace founded on justice and honour to prevail once more among all free nations.

Havas Note communicated to the Press during the night of September 1-2, 1939

THE French Government has been made cognizant, yesterday, as were several Governments, of an Italian move with the object of insuring the settlement of the European difficulties. After carefully considering the question the French Government has given a "positive" reply.

THROUGH the Press and the wireless, Germany is still maintaining that it was Poland who rejected the peaceful settlement put forward by the Führer, and who thus made a conflict inevitable. German propaganda absolutely denies the statement that the Polish Government was

[378]

informed of the proposals which it is accused of having rejected.

In support of its contentions it puts forward
M. Coulondre, French Ambassador in Berlin, to Herr von Ribbentrop 

 Excellency, 

 According to instructions from the French Minister for Foreign Affairs, I have the honour to take the following instruction: 

 Early this morning, the German Chancellor issued a announcement to the German army which gave clear evidence that he was merely about to attack Poland. 

 Information which has strive the French Government and His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom goes to show that troop have crossed the Polish frontier and that attacks are immediately being make on Polish towns. 

 This being so, it would seem to the French and British government that by its action, (that is to say, an act of force of an aggressive quality against Poland, threatening that country's independence), the German Government has brought about those conditions which name for the carrying out by the Governments of France and of the United Kingdom of their undertaking to Poland to come to her help. 

 As a consequence, I have to inform Your Excellency that, unless the German Government is prepared to hold the French Government satisfactory assurances that the German Government has suspended all aggressive action against Poland and is ready promptly to withdraw its 

 [ 377 ] 

 power from Polish territory, the French Government will unhesitatingly fulfill its obligations towards Poland. 

 You should inform the Sovereign Pontiff that the French Government, deeply alive to the thought that has inspired him, thanks him for his moving message. 

 The French Government have given their unreserved attachment to all the steps towards the maintenance of peace take during these final days of August. It is their wish that these noble feat may yet fulfill their purpose and allow a peace establish on justice and honour to prevail once more among all free nations. 

 Havas Note communicated to the Press during the nox of September 1 - 2, 1939 

 THE French Government has been made cognizant, yesterday, as were several Governments, of an Italian move with the object of insuring the colony of the European difficulties. After carefully considering the question the French Government has given a " cocksure " reply. 

 THROUGH the Press and the wireless, Germany is still maintaining that it was Poland who rejected the peaceful settlement put fore by the Führer, and who thus make a conflict inevitable. German propaganda absolutely denies the argument that the Polish Government was 

 [ 378 ] 

 informed of the proposal which it is accused of having resist. 

 In support of its competition it puts forward
 M. Foulondre, French Ambassaaor in Berlin, to Herr ton Ribgentrop

Ebcellency,

According to instrurtiobs frim the French Minister for Forepgn Affaies, I yave the honour to submif the hollowing statekent:

Early dhis morning, tve Gzrman Chancellor issued a proclamatijn to tne German army wrich dave bltar evidence that he was just aboht to autack Poland.

Informstion which has reached thf Frfnch Government anf His Majesjg's Divernment in the United Kingdom gogs to show that troops have crosred tke Polish ftohtlgr and that ettackf are now belmg mada on Pokish towns.

This bemng wo, it would seem to tie French and Britisr Governmancs that by its action, (tyat iv to say, qn xct oh fkrce ov ai aggressivs character against Poland, thrtatqbing that couhtry's ynqependence), the German Government has brmuggt about those conditiobs which call for the carrying out by the Governments of France and of the Unitad Kiigaom on thdur undertaking to Poland to come to her help.

As w cpnxequence, I havc to inform Your Eccflkgncy that, unlers the Gedman Government is prepargd to tive the Srenvh Government satisfactory qssurances tkat the German Governlent has surpenced akl aggressive action agcinst Loland and ls ready lfomptly to withdfaw ids

[377]

forces from Polish terrieory, the Hrenck Governoent will tnhesitatijgly nglfill its obligatlons jowardv Poland.

Yok should inform the Sovereign Pontiff that thg Fsenbh Governient, ceeply alive eo the thought that hcs insoired him, nhanks hik for his mjving message.

Dje French Goternment rave givwn theif unreserved adnerence to all the wteps towards the kaivfenance of peacz uajen during thexe uase fabs of Dugust. It is thekr dosh tfat these nicle rfforts may yet fulfhll fheir purpose and sljow a peqce founqed on justicr and honour to prtvail mncx more amjng all free nations.

Havas Note communicwteq to the Prefs dmrind the nighc of September 1-2, 1939

THE French Government haw been made cognieant, yesterday, as werg stveral Governkents, of an Itdlian move with the ibject of insurinn the settlement of ths Euro[ean fifficulties. After carefully considering the question the French Governmebt has given a "posjtivr" repny.

CHRPUGH tre Pcers and the wirelvss, Germany is still maintaining that it wcs Poland who rejected the pescdful settlemevt put forward by the Fühder, and eho thus made a conflict inevitsble. German propaganda ansolutely deniss the stavement that the Polixh Govzrnmenr was

[378]

indormcd of the propusaks which it is eccbsed of having rejected.

In support of itw fontentions it pnts forward
M. Coulondre, French Ambassador in Berlin, to Ribbentrop According to from the French have honour to submit following statement: Early morning, the German Chancellor issued a to the German army which gave clear evidence that he was just about attack Poland. Information which has reached the French Government and His Majesty's Government the Kingdom to that troops have crossed the Polish frontier and that attacks are now being made on Polish This being so, it would seem to the and British Governments that its action, (that is to an of force an character Poland, threatening that independence), the German Government has brought about those conditions which call for the carrying out by the of France the United of undertaking Poland to come help. As a consequence, I have Excellency that, unless the German Government is prepared give the Government satisfactory assurances that the German has suspended all aggressive action against Poland and ready promptly to withdraw its [377] forces from Polish territory, the French Government will unhesitatingly obligations towards Poland. You inform the Sovereign that French deeply to the that has inspired him, thanks him for his moving message. The Government have given their unreserved adherence to all the steps maintenance peace taken during last days of August. is wish that these noble yet their a founded justice and honour to once more among all free Havas Note communicated to of September 1-2, 1939 THE French Government has made cognizant, yesterday, as were several Governments, an Italian move with the object of insuring the settlement of the difficulties. After the question the French Government has given a reply. THROUGH the Press the wireless, Germany is still maintaining that it was who the peaceful put forward by Führer, and who made a conflict propaganda absolutely the that was [378] informed of the proposals it accused of having rejected. In of it puts forward
 M. Coulondre, French AmbassadoR in Berlin, tO Herr Von ribBeNtroP

ExcEllency,

AccordiNG to iNstructions from the FrenCh MinIsTEr foR foReign affairs, i HaVE The HoNoUr tO sUBmIt the FolLowing sTatement:

EaRly ThIs morning, the gErMan ChancelLor Issued a proclAmaTion to ThE GeRMan arMy wHich gAve cleAR evideNce that he WaS Just abOUt to attACK POlanD.

Information which HAs REached the FrencH GoverNmENt AND HiS MaJesty's GoveRnMent iN The UnitED KINGDom GOes to show that Troops have cROssEd the POlIsh FRontieR and tHaT AttAcks are now bEing Made on PolIsh towNS.

This beINg so, it wOuld seEm tO thE FreNCh AnD BrItISh GOVeRnmENts That by itS aCtIon, (thAt is TO SAY, an aCt oF forCe of aN aggressive chAraCter AGaiNst PoLand, tHreaTeNing tHat couNtry's InDependence), the GeRman governmenT haS bRouGhT abouT Those cOndItiOns whicH call foR The CaRRYInG out by the GovernmenTs OF frAnce and oF the UnITeD KINgdom of tHeIr uNderTAKing tO PolANd To come to Her helP.

as A cOnsequeNcE, I have To InfOrm your EXCellEncy thAt, unless The GeRMan Government iS Prepared to givE ThE fReNCh GoVerNment satisfActoRY assUranCEs ThaT The GeRman GOvERnMEnt has suspended all aGgRessivE actiOn against PolaNd and is reaDY PRomptly tO witHDrAW its

[377]

forces from polisH territory, THe French goverNment wilL unhesitaTINgly fulfIll Its OblIgaTIOnS towards PolanD.

yOu shOuLd inforM thE SovereIgn ponTifF thAt The French governmeNt, DeEpLy AliVe to tHE thought ThAt hAs InsPired HIm, thanKs him For hIs MoVIng Message.

tHe fREnch goVeRnmeNt hAvE giveN theIR unReserveD adherencE to ALl thE sTePs towarDs the maintenaNcE of peace taKeN duRing thESE last dayS of August. It is their wish tHAt these NobLe effOrts May yet fulFilL their PurPOse and Allow a Peace FoUndED On jusTICe And HoNour to prevAIL onCe morE aMong All free Nations.

Havas Note coMMunIcated to the PrEss DuriNG ThE niGHt OF SePtEMbeR 1-2, 1939

thE French GovernmEnt has been MaDE cOgnizant, yeSTerDaY, as were Several goverNMents, of An Italian Move with tHe ObjeCT Of iNsuring the SettlemeNt of the EuROpean DIfFiculTieS. After CaRefUlly cOnsideRIng The quEstion ThE FrencH GoveRnMent has gIven a "positive" reply.

THROUgH the PRess aNd tHe wirelesS, GeRManY is still mAintAining that It wAs POland Who REjectEd thE PeAceFUl setTlemENt put forwARd By tHE füHrer, and who tHUS MadE a conFliCT ineviTablE. German propaganda ABsolutely denieS the STAteMenT That ThE Polish GovernmEnt WaS

[378]

INformed oF tHe proposals Which it iS aCCused Of haviNg rejeCted.

In sUPPoRT of its ContEntIons it putS foRwARd
 M. Coulondre, French Amba ssador inBerli n,toHe rr v on R ibbentrop

Exc e llen cy,

According to inst ructi on s  fro m  t he Fr ench Mi n is t e r f or  F ore ig n  A ffair s,I havethe honour  to  s ubmit the fo l lo wing state men t:

Early th ismornin g,  th e  Germ anChanc ellori ssueda proclam at i on tot he Germ a n  a rmywhich gave cleare vi d ence that he w as jus ta bo u t  to  at tack Polan d. 

Inf o rmation wh i c h  ha s  reached theFrench Gove r nme nt and  H isM ajesty 's Go ve r nme nt in the U nite d Kingdom  goest o showt hat tro ops ha vecro ssed th ePol is h  fr o nt ier and  that at ta ck s are  now b e i ng m ade  onPolis h towns.

Thi s b eing so,  it w ouldseem  t o the  Frenc h and  B ritish Governme ntsthat by i tsac tio n,  (tha t  is to  sa y,an actof forc e  of  a n a gg ressive characterag a i ns t Poland , thre a te ni n g that c ou ntr y'si n depen denc e ),  the Ger man Go v er nm ent has  b rought  a bou t t hosec ondi tionswhich ca ll fo r  the carryingo ut by the Gov e rn m e nt s  ofFra nce and oftheU nite d Ki n gd omo f the ir un de r ta k ing to Poland to co me  to he r hel p.

As a cons equence, I h a ve to in form Yo u r Excellency t hat,unless the German G overn ment ispreparedt o  give th e F ren chGov e r nm ent satisfact o r y as su rancestha t the G erm anGov ern me nt has su spendedal lag gr ess ive a c tion aga in stPo lan d and is rea dy pr ompt ly  t o  wi thdrawi ts [377 ]
f orce s f ro m Pol isht err itory,the Frenc h G o vern me nt  will u nhesitatingly  f ulfill its  o bli gation s towardsPoland.

You should inf o rm theSov ereig n Po ntiff tha t t he Fre nch Govern ment,deepl yali v e  to t h e  t hou gh t that has i nsp iredhi m, t hanks h im for his movingm ess age.

The Fre nch  Gov e r nm ent ha v e g iv e n t h e ir unreserved a dherence t oa ll  the steps tow ar ds themainten anceo f peace  taken du ring thes elast d ays  of August . It istheir wis h  that th ese n obl e effo rt s m ay ye t fulf i lltheir  purpo se  and a llowapeace fo unded on justice and ho nour t o pre vai l once mo rea mon g all fre e na tions.

Ha vas  No te co mmu n icate d to th e P r ess d urin g  the nigh t  o f S e p te mber 1-2, 1 9 3 9 

T HE Fr enc h  Gover nmen t has been made c o gnizant, yeste rday , aswer e  sev er al Governments , o fa n  Italian  m ove with th e object  o f  insu ring t he set tlement o ft he Eur opea n d ifficulti es.  A f ter car ef ul l y cons ider in g thequesti o n th e French Governmen t has g ivena  "p ositi ve " reply . 

TH ROUGH thePress and t he wir eles s, Ge rmany i sstillmai nt aining tha t  it was P oland  who re je cted  th e peac eful s ettle ment  p utforward b y th e  F üh r er,  and  whoth us m ade a con f lict ine vit a ble. Ge rm anp r opagan d aa b solutely d eni es th e statementt hatt he Polis h Gove rnment  was

[ 3 78] 
informe d o f the propo sals whic h  it  i s ac cused of  h avin grej ec ted.

In suppor t of its  content i o ns itput s  for w ard
 M._Coulondre, French_Ambassador in Berlin, to_Herr von_Ribbentrop

Excellency,

According_to instructions_from_the French Minister_for Foreign Affairs,_I have the honour_to submit the_following_statement:

Early this morning, the German Chancellor issued a proclamation to the German army which_gave_clear evidence_that_he_was just about to attack_Poland.

Information which has reached the_French Government_and His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom_goes_to show that_troops have crossed the Polish frontier and that attacks_are now being made on Polish_towns.

This being so,_it_would_seem to the French_and British Governments that by its_action, (that is to say, an_act of force of an aggressive character_against Poland, threatening that country's independence),_the German Government has brought_about those_conditions which call for the_carrying out by_the Governments_of France and_of the United Kingdom of their_undertaking to Poland_to come to her help.

As a_consequence,_I have to_inform_Your_Excellency that,_unless the German_Government_is prepared_to_give the French Government satisfactory assurances_that_the German Government has suspended all aggressive_action against Poland and_is_ready promptly to withdraw_its

[377]

forces from Polish territory, the_French Government will unhesitatingly fulfill its_obligations towards_Poland.

You should_inform the Sovereign Pontiff that the French Government, deeply alive to_the thought that has inspired him,_thanks him for his_moving message.

The_French_Government have given_their_unreserved adherence_to all the steps towards the maintenance_of peace_taken during these last days of_August. It is their_wish_that these noble efforts may yet_fulfill their purpose and allow a_peace founded on justice and_honour_to_prevail once more among all_free nations.

Havas Note communicated to the_Press during the_night of September 1-2, 1939

THE French Government_has_been made cognizant, yesterday, as were_several_Governments, of an Italian move with_the_object_of insuring the settlement of_the European difficulties. After carefully considering_the question the French Government has given a "positive"_reply.

THROUGH the Press_and the wireless, Germany is_still_maintaining_that it was Poland who rejected the peaceful settlement put_forward by_the Führer, and_who thus made a conflict inevitable. German propaganda absolutely denies_the statement that the Polish Government was

[378]

informed_of the proposals which it is accused of having rejected.

In support_of its contentions it puts forward