100 Documents on the Origin of the War-Selected From Official German White Book-1939-254pgs-POL.sml (1)

8/6/2019 100 Documents on the Origin of the War-Selected From Official German White Book-1939-254pgs-POL.sml (1)

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1 0 0 D O C U M E N T S O N T H E O R I G I N O F T H E W A R


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T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

Page

I n t r o d u c t i o n b y H e r r v o n R i b b e n t r o p , R e i c h M i n i s t e r f o r F o r e i g n

Affairs

9

Foreword 13

F i r s t C h a p t e r

D e v e l o p m e n t o f G e r m a n - P o l i s h R e l a t i o n s a n d G e r -

m a n y ' s E f f o r t s t o m a i n t a i n P e a c e i n E u r o p e. D o c u -

ments No . i - i i : 1 5 - 4 0

No .

i Extract from a Memorandum circulated by Mr. L l o y d G e o r g e ,

B r i t i s h P r i m e M i n i s t e r , 2 5 M a r c h x 9 1 9 16

z E x t r a c t f r o m t h e O b s e r v a t i o n s o f t h e G e r m a n P e a c e D e l e g a t i o n

o n t h e P e a c e C o n d i t i o n s , 2 9 M a y 1 9 1 9 17

3 E x t r a c t f r o m t h e O b s e r v a t i o n s o f t h e G e r m a n P e a c e D e l e g a t i o n

o n t h e . P e a c e C o nd i t i o ns , 2 9 M a y 1 9 1 917

4 M e m o b y t h e R e i c h M i n i s t e r f o r F o r e i g n A f f a i r s c o n c e r n i n g a

c o n v e r s a t i o n o f t h e F u e h r e r w i t h t h e P o l i s h M i n i s t e r , 2 M a y1

93 321

5 T h e R e i c h M i n i s t e r f o r F o r e i g n - A f f a i r s t o t h e G e r m a n M i n i s t e r

in Warsaw, 24 November1 9 3 3

2 3

6 T h e G e r m a n M i n i s t e r i n W a r s a w t o t h e G e r m a n F o r e i g n O f f i c e ,

z 8 N o v e m b e r1 9 3 3

2 5

7 Declaration made by the German and Polish Governments,

2 6 J a n u a r y1934

27

8 C o n v e r s a t i o n o f t h e R e i c h M i n i s t e r f o r F o r e i g n A f f a i r s w i t h

M . B e c k , P o l i s h M i n i s t e r f o r F o r e i g n A f f a i r s , 2 o J a n u a r y 1 9 3 7 30

9 The German Ambassador in Warsaw to the German Fore ign

O f f i c e , I June1 9 3 7

31

, o T h e G e r m a n C o n s u l - G e n e r a l i n D a n z i g t o t h e ' G e r m a n F o r e i g n

O f f i c e , x 5 N o v e m b e r 1 9 3 73 6

i i The German Ambassador in Warsaw to the German Fore ign

O f f i c e , 2 S e p t e m b e r 1 9 3 837


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No .Page

S e c o n d C h a p t e r

B r i t i s h W a r P o l i c y af te r th e M u n i c h A g r e e m e n t .

G e r m a n y ' s E f f o r t t o o b t a i n a p e a c e f u l S o l u t i o n f o r t h e

Problems of Danzig and the Corridor . D o c u m e n t s

No. 12 -55 41-120

12 Joint Declaration made by the Fuehrer and Mr. C h a m b e r l a i n ,

B r i t i s h P r i m e M i n i s t e r , M u n i c h , 3 0 S e p t e m b e r 1 9 3 8 41

13 Ex t rac t f rom a Speech by Mr . Chamberlain, British Prime

M i n i s t e r , i n t h e H o u s e o f C o m m o n s , 3 O c t o b e r 1 9 3 8 42

14 Extract from a Speech, by Mr . W i n s t o n C h u r c h i l l , b r o a d c a s t i n

t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a , 1 6 O c t o b e r 1 9 3 8

44

1 5 C o n v e r s a t i o n o f t h e R e i c h M i n i s t e r f o r F o r e i g n A f f a i r s w i t h t h e

Polish Ambassador at Berchtesgaden, 24 October 1938 46


P o l i s h A m b a s s a d o r , 1 9 N o v e m b e r 1 9 3 850

17 Conversation of the Fuehrer with M . B e c k , P o l i s h M i n i s t e r for

F o r e i g n A f f a i r s , i n t h e p r e s e n c e o f t h e R e i c h M i n i s t e r f o r F o r e i g n

Affa i r s , t h e Ge rman Ambassado r i n War saw, and t he Po l i sh

A m b a s s a d o r i n B e r l i n , B e r c h t e s g a d e n , 5 J a n u a r y1

939 53

18 Conversation of the Reich Minister for Foreign Affairs with

M . B e c k , P o l i s h M i n i s t e r f o r F o r e i g n A f f a i r s , M u n i c h , 6 J a n u a r y

1 939 57

19 Conversation of the Reich Minister for Foreign Affairs with

M . B e c k , P o l i s h M i n i s t e r f o r F o r e i g n A f f a i r s , W a r s a w , 2 6 J a -

nuary 19396o

2o Speech by Mr . R . S . H u d s o n , S e c r e t a r y , D e p a r t m e n t o f O v e r s e a s

Trade , i n t he House o f Commons , 3o November 1938 (Ex t r ac t ) 61

21 The German Ambassador in Paris to the German Foreign office,

1o D e c e m b e r 1 9 3 863

22 The German Ambassador in London to the German Fore ign

Office,5 January1939

64

2 3 S p e e c h b y M r . C h a m b e r l a i n , B r i t i s h P r i m e M i n i s t e r , i n

B i r m i n g h a m , 2 8 J a n u a r y 1 9 3 9 ( E x t r a c t )66

2 4 T h e G e r m a n Charge d ' A f f a i r e s in Ankara to the German Foreign

O f f i c e , 1 7 J a n u a r y1939

67

25 The German Min i s t e ri n

Te h e r a n t o t h e G e r m a n F o r e i g n

Office, 4 March 1939 68

2


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4

No .

page

44 The German Consul-General in Posen to the German Foreign

_ O f f i c e , 3 1 M a r c h1939

96

4 5 M e m o b y t h e S t a t e S e c r e t a r y a t t h e G e r m a n F o r e i g n O f f i c e ,

6 A p r i l 1 93997

46 Statement made by Mr. C h a m b e r l a i n , B r i t i s h P r i m e M i n i s t e r , i n

the House of Commons, 31 March 1939100

47 Speech by Mr. C h a m b e r l a i n , B r i t i s h P r i m e

. M i n i s t e r , i n t h e H o u s e

o f C o m m o n s ,

3

A p r i l

1 9 3 9(Extract)

101

4 8 E x t r a c t f r o m a S p e e c h b y S i r J o h n S i m o n , B r i t i s h C h a n c e l l o r o f

t h e E x c h e q u e r , i n t h e H o u s e o f C o m m o n s , 3 A p r i l 1 9 3 910 2

4 9 S p e e c h b y t h e F u e h r e r t o t h e R e i c h s t a g , 2 8 A p r i l 1

939 104

5o The German Ambassador in Warsaw to the German Fore ign

O f f i c e , 2 3 M a y 1 9 3 911 3

5 1 T h e G e r m a n C o n s u l - G e n e r a l i n N e w Y o r k t o t h eG e r m a n

F o r e i g n O f f i c e ,

25

M a y1 9 3 9 11 5


O f f i c e , 2 9 J u n e 1

939 11 7


O f f i c e , 10J u l y 1 9 3 9 11 8


Off i ce , -15 Ju ly1939 11 9

5 5 T h e G e r m a n A m b a s s a d o r i n P a r i s t o t h e G e r m a n F o r e i g n O f f i c e ,

2 8 J u l y1 939 12 0

T h i r d C h a p t e r

P o l a n d a s t h e I n s t r u m e n t o f B r i t a i n ' s W i l l t o Wa r.

Documents No. 5 6 - 1 0 0 12

3 -2 50

5 6 P e t i t i o n b y t h e R e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e G e r m a n M i n o r i t y t o t h e

P r e s i d e n t o f t h e P o l i s h R e p u b l i c , 1 2 M a y 1 9 3 9

124

57 The German Consul at Lodz to the German Foreign Office,

15 May 1939 12 7


Office , 19

June1939 13 0

5 9 T h e G e r m a n C o n s u l a t L e m b e r g t o t h e G e r m a n F o r e i g n O f f i c e ,

1 5 J u l y 1 9 3 9 13 2


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6 o T h e G e r m a n C o n s u l a t L e m b e r g t o t h e G e r m a n F o r e i g n O f f i c e ,

9 August1939

13 2

6 1 M e m o b y a n o f f i c i a l i n t h e P o l i t i c a l D e p a r t m e n t o f t h e G e r m a n

F o r e i g n O f f i c e , 1 6 A u g u s t 1 9 3 913 4

6 2 T h e G e r m a n C o n s u l - G e n e r a l a t K a t t o w i t z t o t h e G e r m a n F o r e i g n

Off i ce , i 6 A u g u s t 1 9 3 9 13 4

6 3 M e m o b y a n o f f i c i a lin

t h e P o l i t i c a l D e p a r t m e n t o f t h e G e r m a n

F o r e i g n O f f i c e , 2 0 A u g u s t 1 9 3 913 3

6 4 M e m o b y a n o f f i c i a l i n t h e P o l i t i c a l D e p a r t m e n t o f t h e G e r m a n

F o r e i g n O f f i c e , 2 3 A u g u s t 1

93914 3

65 The German Consul-General at Thorn to the German Foreign

O f f i c e , 2 8 A u g u s t 1 9 3 9 14 3


O f f i c e .IA u g u s t

193914 5

6 7 T h e D i p l o m a t i c R e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e P o l i s h R e p u b l i c i n D a n z i g

to the President of the Senate of the Free City of Danzig, 4 August

1 9 3 9149

6 8 T h e D i p l o m a t i c R e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e P o l i s h R e p u b l i c i n D a n z i g

to the President of the Senate of the Free City of Danzig, 4 A u g u s t

1 9 3 9 ( 2 n d N o t e )15 0

6 9 T h e P r e s i d e n t o f t h e S e n a t e o f t h e F r e e C i t y o f D a n z i g t o t h e

D i p l o m a t i c R e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f t h e P o l i s h R e p u b l i c i n D a n z i g ,

7 A u g u s t

1 9 3 9

151

7 0 M e m o b y a n o f f i c i a l i n - t h e P o l i t i c a l D e p a r t m e n t o f t h e G e r m a n

F o r e i g n O f f i c e , 2 4 A u g u s t 1 9 3 91 5 2

7 1 T h e G e r m a n C o n s u l - G e n e r a l i n D a n z i g t o t h e G e r m a n F o r e i g n

O f f i c e , 3 1 A u g u s t1 9 3 9 15 3

7 2 C o m m u n i c a t i o n f r o m t h e S t a t e S e c r e t a r y a t t h e G e r m a n F o r e i g n

Office to the Polish C h a r g e d'Affaires, 9 A u g u s t 1 9 3 915 4

7 3 C o m m u n i c a t i o n f r o m t h e U n d e r - S e c r e t a r y o f S t a t e a t t h e P o l i s h

M i n i s t r y f o r F o r e i g n A f f a i r s t o t h e G e r m a n C b a r g l d'Affaires in

Warsaw, io August 193915 5

7 4 T h e H i g h C o m m a n d o f t h e G e r m a n A r m e d F o r c e s to

t h e G e r m a n F o r e i g n O f f i c e , 3 N o v e m b e r 1 9 3 915 6

7 5 M e m o b y t h e S t a t e S e c r e t a r y a t t h e G e r m a n F o r e i g n O f f i c e ,

15. A u g u s t

1939159

la 100 documents, engi .

5


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No .P a g e

76 Memo by t he S t a t e Sec r e t a ry a t t he Ge rman Fo re ign Off i c e ,

15 August1939

16 2

7 7 M r . Chamber l a in , B r i t i sh P r ime Min i s t e r, t o t he Fueh re r,

22 Augus t1939

16 5

78 Conve r sa t i on o f t he Fueh re r w i th t he Br i t i sh Ambassado r,

B e r c h t e s g a d e n ,23

A u g u s t1 939

16 8

7 9 T h e F u e h r e r t o M r. Chamberlain, British Prime Minister,

23 Augus t

193917 3

8 o S t a t e m e n t m a d e b y t h e F u e h r e r t o t h e B r i t i s h A m b a s s a d o r ,

25 Augus t

1 9 3 9 ,

a t 1 . 3 0 p . m17 8

81 B r i t i s h - P o l i s h A g r e e m e n t o f M u t u a l A s s i s t a n c e ,

25Augus t 19 3 9 181

8 2 M. D a l a d i e r , t h e F r e n c h P r e m i e r , t o t h e F u e h r e r , 2 6 A u g u s t 1

939 18 5

83 The Fuehre r to M. Daladier, the French Premier, 27 August

193918 7

8 4 M e m o r a n d u m f r o m t h e B r i t i s h G o v e r n m e n t h a n d e d t o t h e

F u e h r e r b y t h e B r i t i s h A m b a s s a d o r , 2 8 A u g u s t1 9 3 9 ,

10 . 3 0 p .M .

19 2

85 The Fuehrer's Reply to the British Government handed to the

B r i t i s h A m b a s s a d o r , 2 9 A u g u s t 1 9 3 9 , 6 . 4 5 p . m 19 6

86 The German C h a r g ed ' A f f a i r e s

in Warsaw to the German Foreign

O f f i c e , 3 o A u g u s t 1

9 3 9 , 5 . 30 p . m200


B r i t i s h A m b a s s a d o r , 3 o A u g u s t 1 9 3 9 , a t m i d n i g h t201

88 Official German Communication, 31 August 1939, 9 p . m 21 1

89 Announcement by the Polish Broadcasting Station at Warsaw,

31 August

1 9 3 9 ,11 p . m 21 4

9 o L i s t o f o f f i c i a l l y r e p o r t e d s e r i o u s f r o n t i e r i n c i d e n t s o n t h e

German-Polish frontier between z5 and 31 August 1939, com-

p i l e d b y a n o f f i c i a l i n t h e P o l i t i c a l D e p a r t m e n t o f t h e G e r m a n

F o r e i g n O f f i c e , i S e p t e m b e r 1 9 3 9 21 5

9 1 S p e e c h b y t h e F u e h r e r t o t h e R e i c h s t a g , i S e p t e m b e r1

939 P2 5

9 z C o n v e r s a t i o n o f t h e R e i c h M i n i s t e r f o r F o r e i g n A f f a i r s w i t h t h e

B r i t i s h A m b a s s a d o r , i S e p t e m b e r 1 9 3 9 , 9 P

. m 7 35


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Un d e r t h e l e a d e r s h i p o f A d o l f H i t l e r , t h e G e r m a n p e o p l e

has learnt to look not backward in to the pas t , but

f o r w a r d i n t o th e f u t ur e . B u t t h e w a r w h i c h h a s b e e n e n f o r c e d

u p o n u s , a n d w h i c h w e a r e w a g i n g f o r t h e s a k e o f G e r m a n y ' s

f u t u r e w e a l , r e n d e r s i t a b s o l u t e l y n e c e s s a r y t h a t w e s h o u l d

constantly bear in mind what led to the outbreak of the

p r e s e n t c o n f l i c t a n d w h e r e i n l a y i t s u l t i m a t e c a u s e s . These

f a c t s h a v e l o n g b e e n o b v i o u s t o t h o s e w h o c a r e d t o s e e t h e m

a n d h a v e o f t e n e n o u g h b e e n p u b l i c l y e s t a b l i s h e d b y c o m p e t e n t

G e r m a n a u t h o r i t i e s a n d e s p e c i a l l y b y t h e F u e h r e r i n h i s s p e e c h e s .

S i n c e , h o w e v e r , o u r e n e m i e s a r e u n t i r i n g i n t h e i r e f f o r t s t o

c o n c e a l t h e t r u t h b y m e a n s o f l y i n g p r o p a g a n d a a n d t o m i s -

l e a d t h e w o r l d a t l a r g e , n o t o n l y a s r e g a r d s t h e c a u s e s o f t h e

war but also concerning their aims, it seems essential to

f u r n i s h o n c e a g a i n b y a u t h e n t i c o f f i c i a l d o c u m e n t s t h e i r r e f u -

t a b l e p r o o f t h a t B r i t a i n , a n d B r i t a i n a l o n e , w a s r e s p o n s i b l e

for the war which she deliberately brought about in order

t o a n n i h i l a t e G e r m a n y .

I m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r t h e o u t b r e a k o f h o s t i l i t i e s , t h e G e r m a n

F o r e i g n O f f i c e p u b l i s h e d , i n t h e f o r m o f a W h i t e P a p e r , t h o s e

documents which shed a light upon the last phase of the

G e r m a n - P o l i s h c r i s i s . The Foreign Off ice now publ ishes a

m o r e c o m p r e h e n s i v e c o l l e c t i o n o f d o c u m e n t s r e l a t i n g n o t o n l y

t o t h e p e r i o d i m m e d i a t e l y p r e c e d i n g t h e o u t b r e a k o f h o s t i l i t i e s ,

b u t t o t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t p o l i t i c a l e v e n t s w h i c h g a v e r i s e t o

t h e c o n f l i c t w i t h P o l a n d i n t h e f i r s t p l a c e , a n d s u b s e q u e n t l y ,

- t o t h e c o n f l i c t w i t h B r i t a i n a n d F r a n c e.


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u p o n t h e i n t e r e s t s o f G r e a t B r i t a i n . In the same way, the

F u e h r e r w o u l d h a v e o b t a i n e d a p e a c e f u l s o l u t i o n o f t h e G e r -

man-Polish problem, hid not Britain made unscrupulous use

o f P o l a n d a s a p a w n i n h e r s c h e m e s f o r w a r a n d b y h e r

c r i m i n a l p o l i c y p l u n g e d E u r o p e i n t o w a r.

T h i s t r u t h , h i s t o r i c a l l y e s t a b l i s h e d f o r a l l t i m e , i s f u r t h e r

b o r n e o u t b y t h e f a c t t h a t B r i t a i n r e p l i e d t o t h e f i n a l a n d

g e n e r o u s p e a c e o f f e r m a d e o n c e a g a i n b y t h e F u e h r e r i n h i s

speech in the Reichstag on 6 October by an arrogant and

i n s u l t i n g c h a l l e n g e t o G e r m a n y. I n u n s h a k e a b l e c o n s c i o u s n e s s

o f t h e r i g h t e o u s n e s s o f t h e i r c a u s e a n d w i t h t h e u n s w e r v i n g

c o n v i c t i o n o f t h e i r u l t i m a t e v i c t o r y , t h e p e o p l e o f G e r m a n y

t o o k up t h e c ha l l en g e a nd w i l l n o t l a yd o w n t h e i r a r m s u n t i l

they have achieved their aim. T hi s ai m is : - T h e m i l i t a r y

a n n i h i l a t i o n o f t h e i r a d v e r s a r i e s a n d t h e s e c u r e m e n t o f t h e

G e r m a n n a t i o n ' s r i g h t f u l l i v i n g s p a c e a g a i n s t t h e t h r e a t o f

a g g r e s s i o n f o r a l l t i m e .

B e r l i n , 3 D e c e m b e r1 9 3 9 .

von Ribbentrop

R e i c h M i n i s t e r f o r F o r e i g n A f f a i r s .


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F oreword

The following documents have been, published with the

o b j e c t o f g i v i n g a c l e a r p i c t u r e o f t h e e v e n t s w h i c h l e d u p

t o t h e o u t b r e a k , o f t h e p r e s e n t w a r. T h e y r e l a t e n o t o n l y t o

t h e w e e k s i m m e d i a t e l y p r e c e d i n g t h e o u t b r e a k o f h o s t i l i t i e s

b u t a l l o w t h e r e a d e r t o f o r m a n u n b i a s s e d o p i n i o n w i t h r e g a r d

t o t h e m o r e r e m o t e c a u s e s o f t h e w ar .

The White Book published by the German Foreign Office

( 1 9 3 9 , N o . 2 ) e n t i t l e d " D o c u m e n t s o n t h e O r i g i n o f t h e W a r "

c o n t a i n s n o l e s s t h a n 48 2 documents . I t w a s n e c e s s a r y , i n

o r d e r t o g i v e a r e a l l y c o m p r e h e n s i v e s u r v e y n o t o n l y o f t h e

d e v e l o p m e n t o f G e r m a n - P o l i s h r e l a t i o n s , b u t a l s o o f B r i t a i n ' s

w a r p o l i c y a n d t h e G e r m a n - P o l i s h c r i s i s o f *1939, to p u b l i s h

a n u n b r o k e n s e r i e s o f o f f i c i a l d o c u m e n t s . A great number of

t h e d o c u m e n t s c o n t a i n e d i n t h e a b o v e - m e n t i o n e d p u b l i c a t i o n

n e e d n o t , h o w e v e r , b e r e f e r r e d t o b y t h o s e w h o m e r e l y w i s h

t o g a i n a g e n e r a l i m p r e s s i o n o f t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t p o l i t i c a l

e v e n t s . T h e p r e s e n t e d i t i o n i s , t h e r e f o r e , a s e l e c t i o n o f t h o s e

s e c t i o n s o f t h e o f f i c i a l W h i t e B o o k d e a l i n g w i t h t h e o r i g i n o f

t h e w a r , w h i c h m o s t c l e a r l y s h o w t h e m a i n t r e n d o f p o l i t i c a l

developments . T h i s h a n d y e d i t i o n o f . the German documents

o n t h e o r i g i n o f t h e w i L r a f f o r d s e v e r y r e a d e r a n o p p o r t u n i t y

o f s p e e d i l y f a m i l i a r i z i n g h i m s e l f w i t h t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t f a c t s

w h i c h l e d t o t h e o u t b r e a k o f t h e p r e s e n t c o n f l i c t . T h e c o n t e n t s

o f t h o s e d o c u m e n t s w h i c h d o n o t a p p e a r i n t h i s e d i t i o n a r e

. s u m m a r i z e d i n t h e c o n n e c t i n g t e x t , w h i c h t h u s g i v e s a c l e a r

a n d a c c u r a t e p i c t u r e o f t h e c o u r s e o f e v e n t s.

z3


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I n t h e f i r s t c h a p t e r , t h e d o c u m e n t s s h o w t h e d e v e l o p m e n t

o f G e r m a n - P o l i s h r e l a t i o n s f r o m t h e V e r s a i l l e s C o n f e r e n c e to

t h e t i m e p r e c e d i n g t h e M u n i c h A g r e e m e n t . T he s e co n d ch a p t e r

d e a l s w i t h t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f B r i t i s h w a r p o l i c y , n a m e l y , t h e

encirclement of Germany and the incitement of Poland and

a l s o t h e e n d e a v o u r o f t h e R e i c h G o v e r n m e n t to reach a

p e a c e f u l s e t t l e m e n t o f t h e p r o b l e m s o f D a n z i g a n d t h e P o l i s h

C o r r i d o r . The th i rd chapter shows how Poland became the

i n s t r u m e n t o f B r i t a i n ' s w ill . t o wa r . T h e e f f e c t s o f t h e B r i t i s h

g u a r a n t e e c a n b e o b s e r v e d i n t h e c a m p a i g n t o e x t e r m i n a t e t h e

German minority in Poland . T h i s i s f o l l o w e d b y t h e l a s t p h a s e

o f t h e G e r m a n - P o l i s h c r i s i s , i n w h i c h B r i t i s h p o l i c y l e d t o t h e

o u t b r e a k o f h o s t i l i t i e s .

( T h e f i g u r e s i n b r a ck e t s i nd i c at e t h e n um b e r o f th e d o c um e n t in

t h e o f f i c i a l G e r m a n W h i t e B o o k .)


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F I R S T C H A P T E R

D e v e l o p m e n t

o f G e r m a n - P o l i s h R e l a t i o n s

A. T h e V e r s a i l l e s C o n f e r e n c e a n d t h e P o l i s h P r o b l e m

S i n c e t h e d a y a t V e r s a i l l e s w h e n P o l a n d w a s r e c o n s t i t u t e d

a n i n d e p e n d e n t s t a t e , G e r m a n - P o l i s h r e l a t i o n s h a v e b e e n u n d e r

a c l o u d . I n t h e f i r s t i n s t a n c e , P o l a n d d e c l a r e d h e r s e l f G e r -

many's hereditary enemy according to an alleged thousand-

y e a r - o l d t r a d i t i o n . S h e t h u s e s t a b l is h e d n o t o n l y h e r t e r ri t o r ia l

claims with regard to Germany, but even justified her own

r i g h t o f e x i s t e n c e a n d r e c o m m e n d e d h e r s e l f t o t h e v i c t o r i o u s

P o w e r s a s a p o t e n t i a l a n d r e l i a b l e a l l y w h o c o u l d b e c a l l e d

upon a t any t ime to ass is t in holding Germany in check .

S e c o n d l y , t h i s f u n c t i o n o n t h e p a r t o f P o l a n d w a s c o n f i r m e d

b y t h e W e s t e r n P o w e r s , a n d b y i n c l u s i o n i n t h e F r e n c h s y s t e m

o f c o l l e c t i v e s e c u r i t y s h e b e c a m e t h e e a s t e r n l i n k i n t h e e n c i r c l e -

m e n t o f G e r m a n y , d e s t i n e d s i n c e t h e i r f a i l u r e t o s e c u r e R u s s i a

t o a s s u m e t h a t c o u n t r y ' s r o l e a n d c a r r y o n t h e t r a d i t i o n t h a t

Germany's attention should be divided between two fronts.

Thirdly, German-Polish relations were embittered from the

o u t s e t b y t h e t r a n s f e r t o P o l i s h r u l e o f a l a r g e b o d y o f G e r -

mans who were forthwith subjected to strict Polonization .

F o u r t h l y , t h e c e s s i o n o f G e r m a n t e r r i t o r y i n t h e e a s t w a s o n e

o f t h e g r e a t e s t i n j u s t i c e s o f t h e P e a c e T r e a t y. N o t o n l y , t h e

G e r m a n n a t i o n b u t c o m p e t e n t s t a t e s m e n a m o n g t h e A l l i e s

r e g a r d e d t h e s e c e s s i o n s a s s o i n t o l e r a b l e t h a t e v e r y o n e a g r e e d

that this was a matter for immediate - r e p a r a t i o n , i f i t w e r e

n o t t o b e t h e c a u s e o f a n o t h e r E u r o p e a n w a r .

I n a m e m o r a n d u m a d d r e s s e d t o t h e V e r s a i l l e s C o n f e r e n c e o n

2 5 M a r c h i g i g , M r. Lloyd George drew attention to this

I5


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p o t e n t i a l c a u s e o f f u t u r e c o n f l i c t , a s d i d a l s o t h e G e r m a n

P e a c e D e l e g a t i o n .

N o . i (z)

E x t r a c t f r o m a M e m o r a n d u m c i r c u l a t e d b y M r . , L l o y d G e o r g e ,

B r i t i s h P r i m e M i n i s t e r , 2 5 March i9r9

" S o m e c o n s i d e r a t i o n s for t h e P e a c e C o n f e r e n c e b e f o r e t h e y

f i n a l l y d r a f t t h e i r t e r m s "

. . . . T h e m a i n t e n a n c e o f p e a c e w i l l t h e n d e p e n d u p o n t h e r e

b e i n g n o c a u s e s o f e x a s p e r a t i o n c o n s t a n t l y s t i r r ing up . t h e s p i r i t

o f p a t r i o t i s m , o f j u s t i c e o r o f f a i r p l a y . T o a c h i e v e r e d r e s s

o u r t e r m s m a y b e s e v er e , t h e y m a y be s t e rn a n d e ve n r ut h l es s ,

b u t a t t h e s a m e t i m e t h e y c a n b e s o j u s t t h a t t h e c o u n t r y on

w h i c h t h e y a r e i m p o s e d w i l l f e e l i n i t s h e a r t t h a t i t h a s n o

r i g h t t o c o m p l a i n . B u t i n j u s t i c e , a r r o g a n c e , d i s p l a y e d i n t h e

h o u r o f t r i u m p h w i l l n e v e r b e f o r g o t t e n o r f o r g i v e n .

F o r t h e s e r e a s o n s I a m , t h e r e f o r e , s t r o n g l y a v e r s e t o t r a n s -

ferring more Germans from German r u l e t o t h e r u l e o f s o m e

o t h e r n a t i o n t h a n c a n p o s s i b l y b e h e l p e d . I c a n n o t c o n c e i v e

a n y g r e a t e r c a u s e o f f u t u r e w a r t h a n t h a t t h e G e r m a n p e o p l e ,

w h o h a v e c e r t a i n l y p r o v e d t h e m s e l v e s o n e o f t h e m o s t v i g o r o u s

a n d p o w e r f u l r a c e s i n t h e w o r l d , s h o u l d b e s u r r o u n d e dby a

n u m b e r o f s m a l l s t a t e s , m a n y o f t h e m c o n s i s t i n g o f p e o p l e

w h o h a v e n e v e r p r e v i o u s l y s e t u p a s t a b l e g o v e r n m e n t fo r

t h e m s e l v e s , b u t e a c h o f t h e mc o n t a i n i n g l a r g e m a s s e s o f G e r -

mans clamouring for r e u n i o n w i t h t h e i r n a t i v e , l a n d . Th e

p r o p o s a l o f t h e P o l i s h C o m m i s s i o n t h a t we should place

z , i o o , o o o G e r m a n s u n d e r t h e c o n t r o l o f a p e o p l e w h i c h i s o f

a d i f f e r e n t r e l i g i o n a n d w h i c h h a s n e v e r p r o v e d i t sc a p a c i t y

f o r s t ab l e s e lf - g ov e r nm e n t t h r ou g h ou t i t s h i st o r y m us t , i n m y

j u d g m e n t , l e a d s o o n e r o r l a t e r t o a n e w w a r i nt h e E a s t o f

E u r o p e . . . .

x 6


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N o . a (2 )

Ext rac t f rom the Obse rva t ions o f the German Peace De lega t ion

o n t h e P e a c e C o n d i t i o n s ,29

M a y 1 9 1 9 *

(Translation)

B y t h e s e t t l e m e n t o f t h e t e r r i t o r i a l q u e s t i o n s i n t h e e a s t a s

p r o v i d e d f o r i n A r t i c l e s 27 and 28, p o r t i o n s o f t h e P r u s s i a n

provinces of East and West Prussia, Pomerania, Posen and

S i l e s i a m o r e o r l e s s c o n s i d e r a b l e i n a r e a , w h i c h a r e n o t i n h a b i t e d

b y a n u n d e n i a b l y P o l i s h p o p u l a t i o n , a r e a l l o c a t e d t o t h e P o l i s h

S t a t e . W i t h o u t c o n s i d e r i n g t h e e t h n o g r a p h i c a l a s p e c t o f t h e

c a s e , n u m e r o u s G e r m a n c i t i e s a n d l a r g e a r e a s o f p u r e l y G e r m a n

t e r r i t o r y a r e b e i n g h a n d e d o v e r t o P o l a n d m e r e l y i n o r d e r t h a t

P o l a n d s h o u l d p o s s e s s s u i t a b l e m i l i t a r y f r o n t i e r s a g a i n s t G e r -

m a n y o r i m p o r t a n t r a i l w a y j u n c t i o n s . D i s t r i c t s w h i c h a t v a r i o u s

times during centuries have been separated from Poland or

o v e r w h i c h P o l a n d n e v e r r u l e d , a r e n o w b e i n g i n d i s c r i m i n a t e l y

a l l o t t e d t o h e r . T h e a c c e p t a n c e o f t h e s u g g e s t e d s e t t l e m e n t

w o u l d t h e r e f o r e s i g n i f y a v i o l a t i o n o f l a r g e a n d u n d e n i a b l y

G e r m a n d i s t r i c t s . S u c h a s e t t l e m e n t w o u l d , m o r e o v e r , b e c o n -

t r a r y t o t h e W i l s o n i a n p r i n c i p l e t h a t i n s e t t l i n g n a t i o n a l

q u e s t i o n s c a r e m u s t b e e x e r c i s e d t o a v o i d " i n t r o d u c i n g n e w o r

perpetuating old elements of discord and antagonism that

would be likely in time to break the peace of Europe and

c o n s e q u e n t l y o f t h e w o r l d

A n n e x t o t h e N o t e a d d r e s s e d b y t h e P r e s i d e n t o f t h e G e r m a n

Pea c e De l ega t i o n a t Ve r sa i l l e s t o t he P re s iden t of the Versailles

C o n f e r e n c e o n 2 9 M a y 1 9 1 9 .

N o. 3 (I3)

Ex t rac t f rom the Obse rva t ions o f the German Peace De lega t ion

o n t h e P e a c e C o n d i t i o n s , 29 Ma y 1 9 1 9 *

(Translation)

. . The surrender of the purely German Hanseatic town

o f D a n z i g a n d o f i t s e q u a l l y p u r e l y G e r m a n s u r r o u n d i n g s a s

2 1 0 0 d o c u m e n t s , e n g l .

7


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d e m a n d e d i n A r t i c l e s i o o t o i o 8 i s a p a r t i c u l a r l y g l a r i n g c o n -

t r a v e n t i o n o f a l l t h e a s s u r a n c e s g i v e n i n P r e s i d e n t W i l s o n ' s

d e c l a r a t i o n s . T h e c e n s u s t a k e n i n D a n z i g o n i D e c e m b e r 1910

s h o w e d t h a t D a n z i g h a d a n e g l i g i b l e P o l i s h - s p e a k i n g m i n o r i t y

of3 .5

p e r c e n t . , t h e D a n z i g N i e d e r u n g d i s t r i c t o n e o f i p e r

c e n t . , t h e M a r i e n b u r g d i s t r i c t o n e o f 3 p e r c e n t . , e v e n t h e

D a n z i g H o h e d i s t r i c t o n e o f o n l y i i p e r c e n t . The Poles

t h e m s e l v e s d o n o t s e r i o u s l y c o n t e s t t h e f a c t t h a t D a n z i g h a s

always been German in character . An a t tempt to conver t

D a n z i g i n t o a f r e e , c i t y , t o h a n d o v e r i t s t r a n s p o r t s y s t e m a n d

t h e e x t e r n a l r e p r e s e n t a t i o n o f i t s r i g h t s t o t h e P o l i s h S t a t e

w o u l d c a l l f o r t h v i o l e n t o p p o s i t i o n a n d a p e r m a n e n t s t a t e o f

w a r i n E a s t e r n E u r o p e . The economic measures moreover are

s o a r r a n g e d t h a t e v e r y p o s s i b l e o b s t a c l e i s p l a c e d i n t h e w a y

of traffic between Danzig and Germany-obviously with the

i n t e n t i o n o f t h e u l t i m a t e P o l o n i z a t i o n o f t h i s p u r e l y G e r m a n

t e r r i t o r y b y m e a n s o f e c o n o m i c p r e s s u r e . The German Govern-

m e n t a r e t h e r e f o r e f o r c e d t o r e j e c t t h e i n t e n d e d v i o l a t i o n o f

D a n z i g ' s n a t i o n a l i t y a n d t o d e m a n d t h a t D a n z i g a n d t h e s u r -

r o u n d i n g t e r r i t o r y b e l e f t t o t h e G e r m a n R e i c h. - - -

* Annex to the Note addressed by the President of the German

P e a c e D e l e g a t i o n a t V e r s a i l l e s t o t h e P r e s i d e n t o f t h e V e r s a i l l e s

Confe rence , da ted 29 May z9z9.

E v e n M . C l e m e n c e a u , P r e s i d e n t o f t h e S u p r e m e C o u n c i l , i n

h i s w e l l - k n o w n l e t t e r t o M . P a d e r e w s k i d a t e d 24 J u n e 1 9 1 9 ,

p o i n t e d o u t t o t h e P o l e s t h e o b l i g a t i o n s i m p l i e d b y t h e h a n d i n g

o v e r o f l a r g e g r o u p s o f m i n o r i t i e s a n d m a d e t h e s i g n i n g a n d

o b s e r v a n c e o f a T r e a t y f o r t h e P r o t e c t i o n o f M i n o r i t i e s t h e

c o n d i t i o n o n w h i c h P o l a n d w a s t o r e c e i v e t h e G e r m a n t e r r i -

tories. T h i s a t t h e s a m e t i m e c o n s t i t u t e d a s o l e m n o b l i g a t i o n o n

t h e p a r t o f t h e A l l i e d P o w e r s t o s e c u r e t h e o b s e r v a n c e b y

Poland of th is char ter concerning the German and other

m i n o r i t i e s i n P o l a n d . The wording of the Treaty leaves no


23/254

room for doubt as to what responsibi l i t ies Poland agreed to

assume with regard to the non-Polish inhabitants o f the new

State, who represented over40

per cent . o f t h e t o t a l p o p u l a t i o n .

The history o f German-Polish relations from1919 onwards is,

h o w e v e r , a s t h e d o c u m e n t s h e r e p u b l i s h e d s h o w , a s t o r y o f

continual infringement of this treaty by the Poles and at the

same t ime a s tory of the s i lent complici ty of the League of

N a t i o n s a n d t h e g u a r a n t o r P o w e r s . A s f a r b a c k a s2o No -

v e m b e r 1 9 2 0 , t h e G e r m a n G o v e r n m e n t w e r e f o r c e d t o c a s t

aside their reserve and send a comprehensive complaint to the

P o l i s h G o v e r n m e n t. It was stated therein that "Germans were

t r e a t e d a s o u t l a w s i n P o l a n d . " T h i s c o m p l a i n t w a s a s u n -

s u c c e s s f u l a s t h e n u m e r o u s c o m p l a i n t s a n d r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s

m a d e b y r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f t h e G e r m a n m i n o r i t y i n P o l a n d .

i tself .

T h e P o l i s h G o v e r n m e n t m a d e i t c l e a r t h a t t h e y c o n s i d e r e d

themselves in no wise bound by the obl igat ions for the pro-

tection o f the minorities which they had so solemnly under-

taken . On 1o A p r i l 1923 , for instance, General Sikorski, who

was then Premier, speaking in publ ic , announced the Govern-

ment 's programme as " the l iquidat ion o f German estates and

the de-Germanization of the western `voivodeships"' and pro-

ceeded to indulge in cutting remarks directed against Danzig .

B y t h e m i d d l e o f 1923 t h e e x p u l s i o n o f t h e G e r m a n s h a d

a l r e a d y a s s u m e d e x t r a o r d i n a r y p r o p o r t i o n s . Pol ish measures

a g a i n s t G e r m a n l a n d - o w n e r s , w h i c h , f o r e x a m p l e , t h e P e r m a -

nent Court of International justice, in its advisory opinion

g i v e n o n 1o S e p t e m b e r 1923 , designated as "not in conformity

with the international obligations o f the Polish Government,"

s t i l l fur ther increased the compuls ion to emigra te . In Septem-

ber 1 9 3 1 it was admitted in Polish quarters that some million

G e r m a n s h a d a l r e a d y b e e n o u s t e d f r o m P o l a n d . Nei ther the

g u a r a n t o r P o w e r s n o r t h e L e a g u e o f N a t i o n s , t o w h i c h n o t

o n l y t h e G e r m a n , b u t a l s o t h e U k r a i n i a n m i n o r i t y h a d m e a n -

2 *

z9


24/254

j y t n e m a d e r e p e a t e d a p p e a l s f o r p r o t e c t i o n a g a i n s t t h e c o n t i -

n u e d i n f r i n g e m e n to f

t h e p r o v i s i o n s . of t h e M i n o r i t i e s T r e a t y

b y P o l a n d , f u l f i l l e d t h e i r o b l i g a t i o n s.

The Polonizing policy was likewise immediately directed

against the Free City of Danzig . T h e G e r m a n P e a c e D e l e -

g a t i o n ' s p r o t e s t a g a i n s t t h e s e v e r a n c e o f D a n z i g f r o m t h e

R e i c h , a l t h o u g h b a s e d o n P r e s i d e n t W i l s o n ' s d e c l a r a t i o n s , h a d

proved in vain . From the outset Poland regarded thee new

s t a t u s i n D a n z i g m e r e l y a sa p r e p a r a t o r y c o n d i t i o n f o r m a k i n g

t h e c i t y d e f i n i t e l y P o l i s h . P o l a n d s e t u p t w e n t y - f o u r a u t h o r -

ities in Danzig, each of which she regarded as a P o l i s h

n u c l e u s c a p a b l e o f d e v e l o p m e n t . A report by the High Com-

m a n d o f t h e G e r m a n A r m y a t t h e c o n c l u s i o n o f t h e w a r

w i t h P o l a n d s h o w s t h a t t h e m o r e i m p o r t a n t o f t h e s e a u t h o r -

i t i e s h a d b e e n d e v e l o p e d i n t o m i l i t a r y b a s e s . T h e F r e e C i t y

of Danzig was constantly forced to appeal to the League

C o m m i s s i o n e r , a s a l s o t o t h e C o u n c i l o f t h e L e a g u e o f

N a t i o n s a g a i n s t a c t i o n o n t h e p a r t o f P o l a n d. B y t h e a b u s e

o f p r i v i l e g e s g r a n t e d h e r a t V e r s a i l l e s w i t h r e g a r d t o D a n z i g

a n d p r i n c i p a l l y b y t h e e x e r c i s e o f e c o n o m i c p r e s s u r e , P o l a n d .

endeavoured from the outset to force Danzig to subjugate

i t s i n t e r e s t s t o h e r o w n , n o r d i d s h e h e s i t a t e t o v i o l a t e t h e

s o v e r e i g n r i g h t s o f t h e F r e e C i t y o f D a n z i g i n c a s e s w h e r e

s u c h p r e s s u r e s e e m e d u n a v a i l i n g . Whilst Poland endeavoured

by every means in her power to usurp for herself a better

f o o t i n g i n D a n z i g , s h e s u c c e e d e d i n m o s t s e r i o u s l y d a m a g i n g

the trade of the port of Danzig by the construction of a

r i v a l P o l i s h h a r b o u r a t G d y n i a w h i c h w a s g r a n t e d u n i l a t e r a l

p r i v i l e g e s .

G e r m a n y ' s a d v e r s a r i e s i n t h e G r e a t Wa r w h o h a d b e e n

r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f t h e P o l i s h S t a t e s o o n

r e a l i z e d t h a t t h e c o n t i n u a l v i o l a t i o n s o f t h e l a w p e r p e t r a t e d

b y P o l a n d a g a i n s t , t h e G e r m a n m i n o r i t y w i t h i n h e r f r o n t i e r s

a n d a g a i n s t D a n z i g , c o n s t i t u t e d a s e r i o u s t h r e a t t o t h e p e a c e

o f E u r o p e. T h i s f e e l i n g w a s e x p r e s s e d i n n u m e r o u s s t a t e m e n t s

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G

m a d e b y l e a d i n g B r i t i s h p o l i t i c i a n s , i n d e b a t e s i n t h e H o u s e

ofCommons and in various publications . Mr . Winston Chur-

chill, for example, speaking in the House of Commons in

N o v e m b e r 1 9 3 2 a d v o c a t e d " t h e r e m o v a l o f t h e j u s t g r i e v a n c e s

o f t h e v a n q u i s h e d " a n d e m p h a s i z e d i n p a r t i c u l a r t h e " D a n z i g

Corridor. " " O t h e r w i s e " b e a v e r r e d , " w e m i g h t f i n d o u r s e l v e s

p l e d g e d i n h o n o u r a n d i n l a w t o e n t e r a w a r a g a i n s t o u r w i l l ,

a n d a g a i n s t o u r b e t t e r j u d g m e n t , . i n o r d e r t o p r e s e r v e t h o s e

v e r y i n j u s t i c e s a n d g r i e v a n c e s w h i c h s u n d e r E u r o p e t o - d a y."

But nothing was done to alter matters while yet there was

t i m e , a n d b y t h e t i m e t h a t t h e N a t i o n a l - S o c i a l i s t G o v e r n m e n t

came in to power in Germany, condi t ions had become more

a n d m o r e c r i t i c a l .

B . Germany's Efforts to come to an Understanding

with Poland 7 - 9 3 3 to 193 9

I m m e d i a t e l y a f t e r c o m i n g i n t o p o w e r , t h e F u e h r e r , i n o r d e r

t o e n s u r e p e a c e w i t h n e i g h b o u r i n g s t a t e s a n d t h u s t o s e c u r e

t h e p e a c e o f E u r o p e , r e s o l v e d t o p l a c e G e r m a n y ' s r e l a t i o n s

with Poland upon an ent i re ly new foot ing and wi th th is

end in view, to come to an understanding with Poland . His

efforts to reach an understanding began in May 1933 and

continued until the end of August1939 .

A f e w d o c u m e n t s

s e l e c t e d f r o m t h e a b u n d a n t m a t e r i a l e x t a n t b e a r w i t n e s s t o

Germany's efforts to reach an understanding .

No . 4 (2 6 )

Memo by the Reich Minister for Foreign Affairs concerning

a c o n v e r s a t i o n o f t h e F u e h r e r w i t h t h e P o l i s h M i n i s t e r

( T r a n s l a t i o n )

B e r l i n , 2 M a y 1 1 9 3 3

T h i s m o r n i n g t h e R e i c h C h a n c e l l o r i n m y p r e s e n c e r e c e i v e d

t h e P o l i s h M i n i s t e r w h o o n b e h a l f o f h i s G o v e r n m e n t p o i n t e d

out that since the National-Socialist Party had come into

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p o w e r i n G e r m a n y a g r o w i n g u n e a s i n e s s h a d m a n i f e s t e d i t s e l f

i n P o l a n d w h i c h h a d a t t i m e s a l m o s t a m o u n t e d t o p a n i c .

T h e M i n i s t e r e m p h a s i z e d P o l a n d ' s i n t e r e s t i n a f r e e o u t l e t t o

the sea which no Pol ish Government could ever again

r e n o u n c e. F o r t h i s r e a s o n P o l a n d w a s c o m p e l l e d t o m a i n t a i n

h e r t i t l e t o D a n z i g , a n d h e h a d b e e n i n s t r u c t e d t o o b t a i n a n

assurance from the Chancellor that Germany had no inten-

t i o n s o f a l t e r i n g t h e p r e s e n t s t a t u s i n D a n z i g.

The Chancellor replied to M . W y s o c k i b y s t a t i n g t h a t , i n

t h e f i r s t p l a c e , h e w a s f o r c e d t o d e n y t h a t P o l a n d h a d a n y

p a r t i c u l a r c l a i m t o D a n z i g . I f u n e a s i n e s s p r e v a i l e d i n P o l a n d ,

h e c o u l d o n l y s a y t h a t t h e r e w a s d e f i n i t e l y g r e a t e r r e a s o n

f o r s u c h u n e a s i n e s s i n G e r m a n y w h e r e t h e r e w a s a c o n t i n u a l

sense of being threatened on account of events in Upper

S i l e s i a , t h e c o n c e n t r a t i o n o f t r o o p s o n t h e f r o n t i e r a n d t h e

occupation of the Westerplatte in Danzig . O w i n g t o t h e

s h o r t - s i g h t ed n e s s o f s t a t e s m e n , m a l e v o l e n c e a n d l a c k o f i n s i g h t ,

the frontier between Germany and Poland had been fixed in

such a way that as long as this demarcation held good, a

p e a c e f u l c o e x i s t e n c e o f t h e t w o p e o p l e s w a s p r a c t i c a l l y i n -

c o n c e i v a b l e . He respected every nationality and regarded

P o l a n d a s a n a c t u a l i t y w h i c h h e w a s f u l l y p r e p a r e d t o

acknowledge . B u t a t t h e s a m e t i m e h e d e m a n d e d t h a t P o l a n d

for her part should treat Germany as an actuality . I f , a t

the time when the Treaty of Versailles was signed, people

h a d n o t b e e n w h o l l y u n a b l e t o t h i n k c l e a r l y , P o l a n d h e r s e l f

ought never to have consented to the establishment of a

c o r r i d o r t h r o u g h G e r m a n t e r r i t o r y , f o r i t w a s o b v i o u s t h a t

such a corridor would inevitably give rise to a continual

s t a t e of t e n s i on b e t w ee n G e r m an y a n d P o la n d . I t w o u l d

h a v e b e e n m u c h w i s e r t o h a v e c h o s e n t h e o u t l e t t o t h e s e a ,

t o w h i c h t h e M i n i s t e r h a d r e f e r r e d a s a n i n a l i e n a b l e r i g h t

o n P o l a n d ' s p a r t , o n t h e o t h e r s i d e o f E a s t P r u s s i a . Had that

b e e n d o n e , f r i e n d l y r e l a t i o n s w o u l d l o n g h a v e e x i s t e d b e t w e e n

Germany and Poland and there would also have been a


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p o s s i b i l i t y o f a n e c o n o m i c u n d e r s t a n d i n g. H e , t h e C h a n c e l l o r ,

o n l y h o p e d t h a t t h e p o l i t i c a l q u e s t i o n s s t i l l p e n d i n g b e t w e e n

G e r m a n y a n d P o l a n d w o u l d o n e d a y b e i n v e s t i g a t e d a n d

d e a l t w i t h d i s p a s s i o n a t e l y b y t h e s t a t e s m e n o f b o t h c o u n t r i e s.

H e w a s c o n v i n c e d t h a t a w a y o u t o f t h e p r e s e n t i n t o l e r a b l e

s i t u a t i o n c o u l d t h e n b e f o u n d. G e r m a n y w a n t e d p e a c e

. H e

was far from intending to expropriate Polish territory by

f o r c e. H e r e s e r v e d t h e r i g h t , h o w e v e r , t o v i n d i c a t e t h e r i g h t s

t o w h i c h h e w a s e n t i t l e d b y v i r t u e o f t r e a t y a t a n y t i m e a n d

a s h e t h o u g h t f i t . . .

Frhr. v o n N e u r a t h

N o . 5 ( 3 3 )

T h e R e i c h M i n i s t e r f o r F o r e i g n A f f a i r s t o t h e

G e r m a n M i n i s t e r i n W a r s a w

T e l e g r a m

(Transla t ion)

B e r l i n , 24 N o v e m b e r 1 9 3 3

The Reich Chancellor agrees to the draft of a German-

P o l i s h d e c l a r a t i o n a s a l r e a d y h a n d e d o v e r t o y o u i n p e r s o n

h e r e *. The Chancellor further agrees that you should hand

t h i s d r a f t i n a u d i e n c e t o M a r s h a l P i l s u d s k i o n b e h a l f o f t h e

R e i c h C h a n c e l l o r . P l e a s e m a k e i m m e d i a t e f o r m a l a p p l i c a t i o n

f o r t h i s a u d i e n c e a n d p r e s s f o r a s p e e d y f i x i n g o f t h e d a t e.

P l e a s e o b s e r v e t h e f o l l o w i n g l i n e s i n w h a t y o u s a y a t t h e

a u d i e n c e : T h e C h a n ce l l o r s i n c e r e l y t h a n k s t h e M a rs h a l f o r h i s

g r e e t i n g s w h i c h h e r e c i p r o c a t e s. H e h a s w e l c o m e d w i t h s a t i s -

faction the attitude adopted by the Marshal, with whose

views he is in complete accord as is clear from the press

c o m m u n i q u e * * agreed upon . T h e C h a n c e l l o r t h i n k s i t a d v i s a b l e

n o t t o l e t m a t t e r s r e s t a f t e r t h e p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h i s com-

m u n i q u e , but to find a way in which the ideas and aims of

23

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both Governments could be more clearly specified and have

g r e a t e r p o l i t i c a l w e i g h t. H e h a d t h e r e f o r e i n s t r u c t e d y o u t o

h a n d t h e M a r s h a l a d r a f t o f a d e c l a r a t i o n s u c h a s m i g h t b e

made by both Governments with the object of achieving the

a i m d e s i r e d . To explain the wording adopted in this draft

y o u s h o u l d p o i n t o u t t h a t t h e C h a n c e l l o r t h i n k s i t a d v i s a b l e

not to use traditional outworn phrases and formulas which

are already somewhat trite, but to choose instead a form

w h i c h w o u l d m a k e t h e p o l i t i c a l d e c i s i o n o f t h e t w o G o v e r n -

ments absolutely clear and would make a deeper impression

on the public than the usual form of pact which is less

e s t e e m e d n o w a d a y s t h a n f o r m e r l y. Yo u s h o u l d , h o w e v e r ,

emphasize in this connection that the form chosen in the

d r a f t i n n o w a y a f f e c t s t h e b i n d i n g n a t u r e o f t h e t e r m s t o

b e a g r e e d u p o n , a s c a n b e s e e n f r o m t h e f a c t t h a t p r o v i s i o n

i s m a d e a t t h e e n d f o r r a t i f i c a t i o n .

F o r y o u r i n f o r m a t i o n I s h o u l d l i k e t o p o i n t o u t t h a t t h e

wording of the declaration as suggested by us in no w a y

i m p l i e s t h e r e c o g n i t i o n o f G e r m a n y ' s e x i s t i n g e a s t e r n f r o n t i e r s ,

b u t s t a t e s o n t h e c o n t r a r y t h a t b y t h e m e d i u m o f t h i s d e c l a -

r a t i o n a b a s i s s h a l l b e c r e a t e d f o r t h e s o l u t i o n o f a l l p r o b l e m s ,

i . e . a l s o t e r r i t o r i a l p r o b l e m s .

N e u r a t h

* The re fe rence i s to a pre l iminary draf t o f the Decla ra t ion o f

26 J a n u a r yr934 ,

p u b li s h e d un d e r N o . 7 (37) .

* * T h e t e x t o f t h e c o m m u n i q u e is as follows : -

" T h i s m o r n i n g t h e R e i c h C h a n c e l l o r r e c e i v e d t h e P o l i s h M i n i s t e r

w h o c a l l e d o n h i m f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e. T h e d i s c u s s i o n c o n c e r n i n g

G e r m a n - P o l i s h r e l a t i o n s r e v e a l e d t h e c o m p l e t e a g r e e m e n t o f b o t h

G o v e r n m e n t s t o t a c k l e q u e s t i o n s a f f e c t i n g b o t h c o u n t r i e s b y m e a n s

of d i rec t negot ia t ions and to renounce any resor t to force in the i r

mutua l re la t ions ."

24

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No. 6 (34)

T h e G e r m a n M i n i s t e r i n W a r s a w . t o t h e G e r m a n F o r e i g n O f f i c e

Telegram


Wa r s a w , 28 N o v e m b e r 193 3

A u d i e n c e w i t h M a r s h a l P i l u d s k i t o o k p l a c e t h i s a f t e r n o o n .

T h e c o n v e r s a t i o n , a t w h i c h M . Be c k, Fo r ei g n M i ni s te r , w a s

p r e se n t a n d wh i c h l a s te d a b o u t an h o u r a n d a q u a r t er ,wa s

o f a d e f i n i t e l y f r i e n d l y c h a r a c t e r a n d indeed the e x t r a -

o r d i n a r y s p e e d w i t h w h i c h , c o n s i d e r i n gt h e u s u a l c u s t o m

h e r e , t h e d a t e o f t h e a u d i e n c e w a s f i x e d , c a n b e r e g a r d e d as

a s p e c i a l m a r k o f a t t e n t i o n.

T h e M a r s h a l w h o , i n c o n v e r s a t i o n , i s i n c l i n e d t o d e v i a t e

f r o m t h e s u b j e c t u n d e r d is cu ss io n a nd in du lg e i n pe r so n al

r e m i n i s c e n c e s , m o s t l y o f a m i l i t a r y n at ur e , g iv e s t he i m-

p r e s s i o n o f a m a n i n t e l l e c t u a l l ya l e r t b u t p r e m a t u r e l y o l d a n d

a l m o s t i n f i r m i nb o d y . C h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f h i s f u n d a m e n t a l

a t t i t u d e t o w a r d s t h e q u e s t i o n s u n d e r d i s c u s s i o n w e r e h i s

r e p e a t e d e x p r e s s i o n s o f f r i e n d l y a p p r e c i a t i o no f t h e p e r -

s o n a l i t y o f t h e R e i c hC h a n c e l l o r w h o s e g e n u i n e d e s i r e f o r

p e a c e h e f r e q u e n t l y e m p h a s i z e d i n t he c o u r s e o f th e c o n -

v e r s a t i o n .

I b e g a n b y c o n v e y i n g - t h e C h a n c e l l o r ' s g r e e t i n g s which

P i ls u ds k i r e ce i ve d w i th e v id e nt s a ti s fa c ti o n.

A f t e r h a v i n g

e x p l ai n e d , a c c o rd i n g t o y o ur i n st ru ct i on s, the form of the

" d e c l a r a t i o n " c h o s e n b y u s , I r e a d i t a l o u d i n G e r m a n a t

t h e M a r s h a l ' s r e q u e s t a n d s u p p l e m e n t e d t h i s b y e x p l a n a t i o n s

i n F r e n c h , w i t h w h i c h l a n g u a g e h e i s b e t t e r a c q u a i n t e d .

Pi l sudski s ign i f ied h i s agreement_ w i t h t h e f u n d a m e n t a l i d e a s

of the German proposal . U s i n g h i s o w n charac te r i s t ica l ly

d r a s t i c m o d e o f e x p r e s s i o n , h e a p p r o v e d i n p a r t i c u l a r o f t h e

c h o i c e o f a n e w f o r m f o r t h e d e c l a r a t i o n in which the

a b s e n c e o f p a r a g r a p h s , w h ic h h e e v id e n tl y d e te s ts , espec ia l ly

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c r i s i s d e s p i t e t h e f a c t t h a t s h e h a d n o r e s e r v e s , w a s h o w e v e r

o b l i g e d t o s e e k a s e t t l e m e n t w h i c h w a s e c o n o m i c a l l y j u s t i f i a b l e.

Moltke

G e r m a n y ' s e f f o r t s , w h i c h f o u n d a r e a d y s u p p o r t e r i n t h e

person o f that great Polish statesman, Marshal Pilsudski, who

w a s a l s o - d e s i r o u s o f c o m i n g t o a n u n d e r s t a n d i n g w i t h h i s

w e s t e r n n e i g h b o u r , a p p e a r e d t o m e e t w i t h s u c c e s s . O n

2 6 J a n u a r y1934,

a m u t u a l D e c l a r a t i o n w a s m a d e w h i c h

seemed destined to place the relations of the two States and

t h e t w o p e o p l e s o n a n e w f o o t i n g .

N o.7 (37)

D e c l a r a t i o n m a d e b y t h e G e r m a n a n d t h e P o l i s h G o v e r n m e n t s ,

2 6 J a n u a r y 1 9 3 4

(Translation)

T h e G e r m a n G o v e r n m e n t a n d t h e P o l i s h G o v e r n m e n t

c o n s i d e r t h a t t h e t i m e h a s c o m e t o i n t r o d u c e a n e w p h a s e i n

t h e p o l i t i c a l r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n G e r m a n y a n d P o l a n d b y d i r e c t

u n d e r s t a n d i n g b e t w e e n S t a t e a n d S t a t e. T h e y h a v e , t h e r e f o r e ,

d e c i d e d i n t h e p r e s e n t d e c l a r a t i o n t o l a y d o w n t h e p r i n c i p l e s

f o r t h e f u t u r e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e s e r e l a t i o n s .

The two Governments base their action on the fact that

t h e m a i n t e n a n c e a n d s a f e g u a r d i n g o f a l a s t i n g p e a c e b e t w e e n

t h e i r c o u n t r i e s i s a n e s s e n t i a l p r e r e q u i s i t e f o r t h e g e n e r a l p e a c e

of Europe . T h e y h a v e t h e r e f o r e d e c i d e d t o b a s e t h e i r m u t u a l

r e l a t i o n s o n t h e p r i n c i p l e s l a i d d o w n i n t h e P a c t o f P a r i s

of 27 August 1928and propose to define more exactly the

a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e s e p r i n c i p l e s i n s o f a r a s t h e r e l a t i o n s

between Germany and Poland are concerned .

E a c h o f t h e t w o G o v e r n m e n t s , t h e r e f o r e , e s t a b l i s h t h a t t h e

i n t e r n a t i o n a l o b l i g a t i o n s a l r e a d y r e s p e c t i v e l y u n d e r t a k e n b y

t h e m t o w a r d s a t h i r d p a r t y d o n o t h i n d e r t h e p e a c e f u l

d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e i r m u t u a l r e l a t i o n s , d o n o c o n f l i c t w i t h

t h e p r e s e n t D e c l a r a t i o n a n d a r e n o t a f f e c t e d b y t h i s D e c l a r a -


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D o n e i n t w o o r i g i n a l d o c u m e n t s i n t h e G e r m a n a n d P o l i s h ,

l a n g u a g e s r e s p e c t i v e l y.

B e r l i n , 26 January 1934 .

F o r t h e G e r m a n G o v e r n m e n t :

C . F r e i h e r r v o n N e u r a t h

For the Polish Government :

J 6 z e f L i p s k i

This solemn Declaration expressed the intention of both

G o v e r n m e n t s t o s o l v e a l l q u e s t i o n s a f f e c t i n g t h e i r r e l a t i o n s

b y m e a n s o f b i l a t e r a l d i p l o m a t i c n e g o t i a t i o n s , w i t h o u t r e s o r t -

i n g t o f o r c e a n d w i t h o u t t h e i n t e r v e n t i o n o f a t h i r d p a r t y .

It was hoped that on the basis of such good-neighbourly

r e l a t i o n s , a s o l u t i o n c o u l d b e f o u n d " f o r p r o b l e m s o f a p o l i -

t i c a l , e c o n o m i c o r c u l t u r a l n a t u r e ". T h i s a g r e e m e n t r e l a t e d ,

t h e r e f o r e , t o t h e s e t t l e m e n t o f p r o b l e m s b u t w a s n o t i n t e n d e d

t o p e r p e t u a t e t h e e x i s t i n gs t a t u s q u o

b e t w e e n G e r m a n y a n d

P o l a n d .

E x p e c t a t i o n s t h a t t h i s a g r e e m e n t w o u l d p l a c e t h e ' r e l a t i o n s

between the two states and the two peoples on a new and

p r o d u c t i v e f o o t i n g w e r e d o o m e d t o e a r l y d i s a p p o i n t m e n t.

The hope that the German-Polish Declaration would lead

to an improvement in the treatment of the German minority

i n P o l a n d a n d w o u l d c o n s i t u t e a r u l e f o r t h e a t t i t u d e o f t h e

Polish authorities towards the German minority was soon

s h a t t e r e d. A s s u m i n g t h a t G e r m a n y a n d t h e G e r m a n P r e s s

would remain silent in accordance with the spirit o f the

friendly agreement, the Polish Government under cover o f

this very agreement began a campaign with the object of

r i d d i n g t h e m s e l v e s o f t h e G e r m a n m i n o r i t y b y u n d e r h a n d

methods, the only obstacle in their path being the merely

formal supervision in connection with the Treaty for the

P r o t e c t i o n o f M i n o r i t i e s . On 13September

1 9 3 4 ,P o l a n d , t h e r e -

f o r e , n o t i f i e d t h e L e a g u e o f N a t i o n s A s s e m b l y t h a t s h e w o u l d


34/254

c e a s e t o c o - o p e r a t e w i t h t h e L e a g u e i n t h e e x e c u t i o n o f t h e

T r e a t y f o r t h e P r o t e c t i o n o f M i n o r i t i e s . In reply to German

r e s e r v a t i o n s w i t h r e g a r d t o t h i s s t e p , t h e P o l i s h M i n i s t e r f o r

F o r e i g n A f f a i r s e x p r e s s l y d e c l a re d t h a t t h e r i g h t s o f t h e m i n o -

r i t i e s w o u l d , i n f u t u r e , b e p r o t e c t e d a s h i t h e r t o b y t h e P o l i s h

c o n s t i t u t i o n .

T h i s s t a t e m e n t w a s , h o w e v e r , n o t i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h f a c t s .

The campaign to exterminate the German minority was con-

t i n u e d b y m e a n s o f A g r a r i a n R e f o r m , d i s m i s s a l ' o f w o r k e r s ,

l i m i t a t i o n o f c u l t u r a l a c t i v i t i e s , b o y c o t t i n g m e a s u r e s a n d a c t s

o f t e r r o r . The German-Polish press truce was not observed .

G e r m a n r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s i n P o l a n d w e r e f o r c e d t o r e p o r t t h a t

the friendly agreement had brought with it no improvement

b u t t h a t , o n t h e c o n t r a r y , t h e s i t u a t i o n w a s b e c o m i n g s t e a d i l y

worse .

No. 8 (73)

C o n v e r s a t i o n o f t h e R e i c h M i n i s t e r f o r F o r e i g n A f f a i r s w i t h

M . B e c k , P o l i s h M i n i s t e r f o r F o r e i g n A f f a i r s

Memo


B e r l i n , 2o January 1937

M . B e c k , t h e P o l i s h M i n i s t e r f o r F o r e i g n A f f a i r s , v i s i t e d

m e t h i s m o r n i n g , w h i l s t p a s s i n g t h r o u g h B e r l i n o n h i s w a y t o

G e n e v a , a n d w e t o o k o c c a s i o n t o d i s c u s s , a m o n g s t o t h e r t h i n g s ,

t h e a t t i t u d e o f t h e P o l i s h P r e s s .

I d r e w M . B e ck ' s at t en t i o n to t h e f a ct t h at e v en a l ar g e

p a r t o f t h e P o l i s h P r e s s w h i c h i s i n s p i r e d b y t h e G o v e r n m e n t

h a s b e e n , d u r i n g t h e l a s t f e w m o n t h s , w r i t i n g i n a w a y v e r y

unfriendly towards Germany . I stated that we had imposed

upon the German Press the duty of remaining very reserved

i n r e g a r d t o t h i s u n f r i e n d l y t o n e , b u t t h a t I w o u l d r e q u e s t

h i m t o u s e h i s i n f l u e n c e w i t h a v i e w t o c a u s i n g t h i s s e c t i o n

o f t h e P ol i s h P re s s t o c ha n g e i ts t o n e . T h i s m a t t e r e v i d e n t l y

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c a u s e d M . B e c k e m b a r r a s s m e n t a n d h e e n d e a v o u r e d t o e x c u s e

t h e m a t t e r s o b j e c t e d t o o n t h e g r o u n d o f i n t e r n a l p o l i t i c a l

d i f f i c u l t i e s i n P o l a n d .

Frhr . v o n N e u r a t h

I n t h e s p r i n g o f 1 9 3 7 , G e r m a n y , i n v i e w o f t h e i m p e n d i n g

e x p i r a t i o n o f t h e G e n e v a C o n v e n t i o n r e l a t i n g t o U p p e r S i l e s i a

( w h i c h e n s u r e d t h e p o p u l a t i o n o n e i t h e r s i d e o f t h e f r o n t i e r

c e r t a i n f a c i l i t i e s f o r a t r a n s i t i o n p e r i o d o f f i f t e e n y e a r s ) , m a d e

an effort to secure a bilateral minorities agreement with

Poland . P o l a n d , h o w e v e r , t w i c e r e j e c t e d s u c h a s u g g e s t i o n ,

b e i n g o f t h e o p i n i o n t h a t i t w o u l d c o n s t i t u t e a l i m i t a t i o n o f

h e r s o v e r e i g n r i g h t s . I n v i e w o f t h i s , G e r m a n y w a s p r e p a r e d

t o b e s a t i s f i e d w i t h a n i d e n t i c d e c l a r a t i o n m a d e s i m u l t a n e o u s l y

by each Government in place of a formal agreement . In th i s

connection, the German Ambassador in Warsaw submitted the

f o l l o w i n g r e p o r t t o t h e G e r m a n F o r e i g n O f f i c e : -

Nr .9 ( 8 8 )

T h e G e r m a n A m b a s s a d o r i n W a r s a w t o t h e G e r m a n F o r e i g n

O f f i c e

Report


Wa r s a w, i J u n e 1937

I v i s i t e d M . B e c k t o - d a y a n d m a d e t h e demarchew h i c h y o u

i n s t r u c t e d m e t o m a k e a n d h a n d e d t o h i m t h e a t t a c h e d M e m o -

r a n d u m w h i c h I a l s o t h o r o u g h l y e x p l a i n e d v e r b a l l y . M . B e c k

l i s t e n e d v e r y a t t e n t i v e l y b u t s h o w e d d u r i n g m y r e m a r k s s i g n s

n e i t h e r o f a g r e e m e n t n o r d i s a g r e e m e n t . W h e n I i n c o n c l u s i o n

p o i n t e d o u t t h a t m y i n s t r u c t i o n s f r o m H e r r v o n N e u r a t h h a d

b e e n o r d e r e d b y t h e F u e h r e r a n d C h a n c e l l o r , M . B e c k s h o w e d

s i g n s o f b e i n g o b v i o u s l y i m p r e s s e d a n d r e p e a t e d t h a t d e s i r e s o f

t h e F u e h r e r w e r e a l w a y s c e r t a i n t o r e c e i v e p a r t i c u l a r l y s e r i o u s

c o n s i d e r a t i o n i n W a r s a w , a n d h e w o u l d , o f c o u r s e , i m m e d i a t e l y

submit to the Premier or to the Cabinet the matter which

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p u b l i c d e c l a r a t i o n t o b e m a d e b y t h e t w o G o v e r n m e n t s r e g a r d -

i n g t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f t h e G e r m a n a n d t h e P o l i s h m i n o r i t i e s

r e s p e c t i v e l y , d o m i c i l e d w i t h i n t h e i r t e r r i t o r i e s . T h e M e m o -

randum goes on to s a y : -

Extract from the Memorandum o f the Reich with regard to

t h e G e r m a n - P o l i s h M i n o r i t i e s p r o b l e m , 1 June 1937

5 . I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e p r e v i o u s l y i n d i c a t e d p o i n t s o f v i e w

which arise out of questions of principle, and even more

u r g e n t l y t h a n t h e s e , t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e a c t u a l s i t u a t i o n

of the German minority in Poland demands that an under-

standing be arrived at between the two Governments on the

w h o l e m i n o r i t i e s p r o b l e m. I t i s i n t h i s a c t u a l s i t u a t i o n o f t h e

German minority that the German Government regret to see

a n i n c o n t r o v e r t i b l e a r g u m e n t a g a i n s t t h e P o l i s h t h e o r y t h a t

t h e m i n o r i t y w o u l d f a r e b e s t i f t h e l o c a l a u t h o r i t i e s w e r e l e f t

f r e e t o d e a l w i t h i t a t t h e i r o w n u n r e s t r i c t e d d i s c r e t i o n . A s a

m a t t e r o f f a c t , o u r o b s e r v a t i o n s f o r a l o n g t i m e a n d p a r t i -

c u l a r l y d u r i n g t h e l a s t y e a r h; v e l e f t n o d o u b t t h a t a s y s t e m -

a t i c a t t e m p t i s b e i n g m a d e w i t h t h e s u p p o r t o f s t a t e d e p a r t -

m e n t s a n d o f p r i v a t e o r g a n i z a t i o n s e n c o u r a g e d b y t h e a u t h o r i -

t i e s t o s h a t t e r t h e e c o n o m i c f o u n d a t i o n s o f t h e G e r m a n m i n o -

r i t y i n P o l a n d a n d t o c a u s e a l l t h o s e w h o a d m i t t o b e i n g G e r -

m a n s t o c h a n g e t h e i r a t t i t u d e i n t h i s r e s p e c t .

6. I t i s n o t i n t e n d e d a t t h i s s t a g e t o e n t e r i n t o a d i s c u s s i o n

o f d e t a i l s . However, in order that the German complaint may

not appear to be vague or not substantiated we would draw

a t t e n t i o n t o t h e f o l l o w i n g p o i n t s : -

( a ) t h e d i s p r o p o r t i o n a t e s u b j e c t i o n o f G e r m a n e s t a t e s t o t h e

process of expropriation in accordance with Agrarian

R e f o r m , a s c a r r i e d o u t p a r t i c u l a r l y l a s t y e a r ;

(b) t h e i n t e n s i f i e d P o l o n i z a t i o n o f G e r m a n e s t a t e s , w h i c h

h a v e b e e n f o r g e n e r a t i o n s i n t h e p o s s e s s i o n o f G e r m a n s ,

3 1 0 0 d o c u m e n t s , e n g l .

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b y a p p l i c a t i o n o f t h e l a w o f r e p u r c h a s e a n d p r i o r i t y

p u r c h a s e ;

(c) the interpretat ion of the legis la t ion applying to the

frontier zone*, which is in fact also being particularly

directed against the Germans ;

(d) the fact that for some t ime past persons belonging to

t h e G e r m a n m i n o r i t y h a v e o n l y i n e x c e p t i o n a l c a s e s

received permission from the authorities to open shops,

businesses, and trading and industrial undertakings, and

that doctors, chemists, and lawyers of German birth are

being caused the greates t d i ff icul t ies by the author i t ies

in the es tabl ishment of a pract ice ;

( e ) t h e l i k e w i s e o b v i o u s f a c t t h a t G e r m a n e m p l o y e e s a n d

w o r k m e n a r e d i s m i s s e d o w i n g t o p r e s s u r e f r o m P o l i s h

o r g a n i z a t i o n s , a n d f i n d n o e m p l o y m e n t a s l o n g a s t h e y

s t i l l b e l o n g t o G e r m a n o r g a n i z a t i o n s o r s e n d t h e i r c h i l d r e n

t o G e r m a n s c h o o l s ;

( f )t h e s a d p l i g h t o f t h o s e y o u n g p e o p l e w h o h a v e p a s s e d

through schools which have been l icensed by the Pol ish

State, but afterwards in preparing themselves for a pro-

fession have been caused such great difficulties that a

d i s p r o p o r t i o n a t e l y h i g h p e r c e n t a g e o f y o u n g p e o p l e o f

G e r m a n b i r t h h a v e n o t y e t b e e n a b l e t o e n t e r a n y p r o -

f e s s i o n ;

(g) the boycott of all German businesses in the severed terri-

tor ies , which has even been publ ic ly procla imed recent ly .

* I n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e F r o n t i e r Z o n e s O r d e r o f 2 3 D e c e m b e r

1927 and the orders issued for the purpose o f its execution, limi-

ta t ions were in t roduced in regard to res idence and the acquis i t ion

o f l a n d e d pr o p e r t y w i t h i n a c e r t a i n z o n e . T o t h i s z o n e b e l o n g e d

the whole of Pommere l len , a l so the whole of the Corr idor d i s t r ic t ,

a l m o s t t h e w h o l e o f t h e p r o v i n c e o f P o s e n , a n d t h e w h o l e o f U p p e r

S i l e s i a . I n s p i t e o f t h e s e r e p r e s e n t a t i o n s b y G e r m a n y t h e F r o n t i e r

Z o n e O r d e r w a s m a d e m o r e r i g o r o u s o n IJ u l y 1 9 3 7 .

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I n c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e v a r i o u s p e r s o n a l a n d f a m i l y c o n n e c t -

i o n s o f t h e f r o n t i e r p o p u l a t i o n i t i s n a t u r a l t h a t i t h a s b e c o m e

k n o w n i n G e r m a n y t h a t t h o s e b e l o n g i n gt o t h e G e r m a n

m i n o r i t y a r e f o r f e i t i n g t h e i r m e a n s o f e x i s t e n c e i n a c o n t i n u a l l y

i n c r e a s i n g d e g r e e. A s p u b l i c f e e l i n g i s m o u n t i n g , t h e G o v e r n -

m e n t o f t h e R e i c h a r e c a l l e d u p o n t o t a k e r e p r i s a l s a n d t o

l i m i t t h e s c o p e o f e x i s t e n c e f o r t h o s e b e l o n g i n g t o t h e P o l i s h

minority in Germany who hitherto have been following out

a n d c a r r y i n g o n t h e i r o c c u p a t i o n w i t h o u t l e t o r h i n d r a n c e .

The Government of the Reich naturally desire not to have

t o p r o c e e d t o r e p r i s a l s a g a i n s t P o l a n d b u t c a n n o t , o n t h e o t h e r

h a n d , c l o s e t h e i r e y e s t o t h e f a c t t h a t t h e i n c r e a s i n g p r e s s u r e

t Q w h i c h t h e G e r m a n s i n P o l a n d a r e b e i n g c o n t i n u o u s l y s u b -

j e c t e d i s c a u s i n g p a i n a n d d i s a p p r o v a l w i t h i n t h e R e i c h , and

t h a t t h e p o p u l a r i t y o f a g e n e r o u s p o l i c y o f c o m i n g t o a n u n d e r -

s t a n d i n g w i t h P o l a n d i s s u f f e r i n g s e v e r e l y a s a r e s u l t o f t h e s e

m e a s u r e s o n t h e p a r t o f s u b o r d i n a t e P o l i s h a u t h o r i t i e s .

7 . T h e G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e R e i c h , t h e r e f o r e , u r g e n t l y r e q u e s t

t h a t t h e m i n o r i t i e s q u e s t i o n m a y b e e x a m i n e d a g a i n i n c o n -

s i d e r a t i o n o f a n d i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h t h e f o r e g o i n g p o i n t s of

v i e w. They hope that the Polish Government will, however,

s t i l l d e c i d e t o e n t e r i n t o d i s c u s s i o n s i n s o m e f o r m o r a n o t h e r

o f a f u n d a m e n t a l s e t t l e m e n t , a n d t h a t t h e y w i l l , m o r e o v e r ,

a d o p t m e a s u r e s a s s o o n a s p o s s i b l e i n o r d e r t o c u r b t h e c h a u v i -

n i s m p r e v a i l i n g i n t h e w e s t e r n p r o v i n c e s o f P o l a n d; f o r t h i s

c h a u v i n i s m i n v o l v e s t h e s e r i o u s d a n g e r o f t h e c o - o p e r a t i o n

between the German and Polish Governments, which had had

s u c h a f a v o u r a b l e b e g i n n i n g , b e i n g h a m p e r e d i n i t sf u r t h e r

f r u i t f u l d e v e l o p m e n t.

O n f N o v e m b e r 1 9 , 3 7 , a n I d e n t i c D e c l a r a t i o n w a s a c t u a l l y

m a d e b y b o t h G o v e r n m e n t s. I n v i e w o f P o l a n d ' s r e f u s a l t o

a g r e e t o a t r e a t y i n v o l v i n g d e f i n i t e o b l i g a t i o n s f o r b o t h p a r -

t i e s , t h i s D e c l a r a t i o n w a s , i n p r a c t i c e , d e p r i v e d o f a l a r g e

m e a s u r e o f i t s e f f e c t i v e n e s s .

3'

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The coercive measures adopted by the Poles against the

German minority were accompanied by continued anti-Ger-

m a n a c t s o f p r o v o c a t i o n . T h a t th e f i na l a i m of P o l is h p o l i c y

a s r e g a r d s D a n z i g w a s t o i n c o r p o r a t e t h e F r e e C i t y i n t o t h e

Polish State was made obvious at a Polish national demon-

s t r a t i o n c o n c e r n i n g w h i c h t h e G e r m a n C o n s u l - G e n e r a l i n D a n z i g

s e n t t h e f o l l o w i n g r e p o r t t o t h e G e r m a n F o r e i g n O f f i c e :-

No . 10 ( 1 9 2 )

T h e G e r m a n C o n s u l - G e n e r a l i n D a n z i g t o t h e G e r m a n

F o r e i g n O f f i c e

Report


D a n z i g , 1 f , N o v e m b e r1937

- O n t h e o c c a s i o n o f t h e a n n i v e r s a r y o f t h e P o l i s h D e c l a r a -

t i o n o f I n d e p e n d e n c e o n 1 1 N o v e m b e r c e l e b r a t i o n s t o o k p l a c e

l a s t S u n d a y i n v i l l a g e s i n h i b i t e d b y P o l i s h m i n o r i t i e s i n t h e

Free State of Danzig. Numerous Danzig residents of Polish

e x t r a c t i o n t o o k p a r t i n t h e f e s t i v i t i e s .

D u r i n g o n e o f t h e c e l e b r a t i o n s i n t h e v i l l a g e o f - G r o s s -

Trampken some remarkable statements were made in a speech

by M . Chodacki, Poland's Diplomatic Representative in

Danzig . H e s a i d a m o n g s t o t h e r t h i n g s : " I r e m e m b e r t h e t i m e

v e r y w e l l w h e n I j o i n e d u p i n t h e G r e a t Wa r h o p i n g f o r

P o l a n d ' s r e s u r r e c t i o n . T h e P o l e s h e r e i n D a n z i g s h o u l d l i k e -

wise hope and wait for the time when, in the near future,

t h e y w i l l b e l i v i n g o n P o l i s h s o i l ."

v o n L u c k w a l d

D u r i n g 1 9 3 8 , G e r m a n - P o l i s h r e l a t i o n s d e t e r i o r a t e d s t i l l

f u r t h e r , a f a c t w h i c h w a s d u e t o a g r e a t e x t e n t t o t h e p r o -

v o c a t i v e a t t i t u d e o f t h e P o l i s h P r e s s . I n t h i s c o n n e c t i o n t h e

German Ambassador in Warsaw reported as follows : -

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No . 11 ( 11 7 )

The German Ambassador in Warsaw to the German

F o r e i g n O f f i c e

R e p o r t


Wa r s a w , 2 S e p t e m b e r 1

9 3

8

T h e a t t i t u de of t he P ol i sh P r e s s a n d o f o t h e r o r g a n s of

p u b l i c i t y i n P o l a n d , t o w a r d s G e r m a n y h a s l a t t e r l y become

u n m i s t a k a b l y w o r s e . T h i s a t t i t u d e w a s n e v e r s a t i s f a c t o r y ,

a n d c o n t i n u a l l y f a i l e d t o c o m e u p t o t h e e x p e c t a t i o n s which

h a d b e e n f r e q u e n t l y a s s o c i a t e d b y G e r m a n s w i t h t h e p o l i t i c a l

A g r e e m e n t a n d t h e P r e s s Pa c t o f 1 9 3 4 . I t i s t r u e t h a t n e w s -

p a p e r s i n s p i r e d b y t h e P o l i s hM i n i s t r y f o r F o r e i g n A f f a i r s

a n d o t h e r o r g a n s o f p o l i t i c a l o p i n i o n w e r e m o s t l y c o r r e c t in

t h e i r b e h a v i o u r a n d i n m a n y q u e s t i o n s , p a r t i c u l a r l y f o r e i g n

pol i t i ca l ones ,o f t e n d is p l ay ed a n a t t i t u d e w h i c h must be

a p p r e c i a t e d , b u t n o t e v e n d i d t h e s o - c a l l e d ` c a m p o f n a t i o n a l

u n i t y ' , t h a t i s t o s a y the p a rt y or g an i za t io n o f t h eGovern-

m e n t w h i c h h a d b e e n c r e a t e d f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f w i n n i n g th e

" m a s s es " f or t h e p r e v ai l i n g s y s t e m, f ai l t o m a k e u s e of ant i -

German catchwords i n i t s c o m p e t i t i o n w i t h t h e o t h e r p o -

l i t i c a l g r o u p s , a n d i no r d e r t o g a i n m o r e p o p u l a r i t y .

The Polish Government a r e m a i n t a i n i n g c o n s i d e r a b l e re-

s e r v e i n t h e f a c e o f t h e s e i n c id e n ts ; a t a l l e v e n t s t h e r e a r e

n o s i g n s o f a n y k i n d o f e n e r g e t i c c o u n t e r - a c t i o n b e i n gt a k e n

.

I t m a y b e t r u e t h a t t h e p o s s i b i l i t y f o r t h e P o l i s h a u t h o r i t i e s

o f e x er ci s in g i n fl ue nc e u p o n t h e P r e s s i s l i m i t e d , b u t s u c h

a n e x t r e m e l y p a s s i v e a t t i t u d e c a n i n d e e d o n l yb e e x p l a i n e d

b y t h e f a c t t h a t t h e Government are afraido f e m p l o y i n g

s u c h m e a n s o f f o r c e a s t h e y a c t u a l l y p o s s e s s , f o r t h e p r o -

t e c t i o n o f the unpopular G e r m a n i n t e r e s t s , showing far

g r e a t e r e n e r g y i n r e p r e s e n t i n gt h e i r o w n i n t e r e s t s . I t w o u l d

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s e e m h a r d l y c r e d i b l e t h a t i t s h o u l d b e i m p o s s i b l e t o p r e v e n t

t h e r e p e a t e d p r o v o c a t i v e d e m o n s t r a t i o n s i n t h e t o w n s i n t h e

w e s t e r n d i s t r i c t s , s t a g e d b y t h e W e s t M a r c h e s S o c i e t y , w h i c h

is in close contact with the Government .

I t c a n n o t e s c a p e t h e n o t i c e o f t h e P o l i s h G o v e r n m e n t t h a t

t h i s p a s s i v e a t t i t u d e i s g r a d u a l l y c r e a t i n g a n a t m o s p h e r e w h i c h

i s b e c o m i n g c o n t i n u a l l y m o r e i n c o m p a t i b l e w i t h t h e G e r m a n -

P o l i s h p o l i c y o f c o m i n g t o a n a g r e e m e n t . C e r t a i n l y o n e h a s

n e v e r , h e r e i n P o l a n d , n o t i c e d a v e r y c o r d i a l t o n e i n r e g a r d

t o G e r m an y , a nd w he n th er e we re c ri ti ca l mo me nt s, th e

P o l e s a l w a y s a t t a c h e d i m p o r t a n c e t o n o t a l l o w i n g t h e i r c o n -

nections with Germany to appear to be too intimate . T h a t ,

h o w e v e r , t h e s o n