A.—l

frontier incidents, reports of maltreatment, and inflammatory propaganda is a constant danger to peace. It is manifestly a matter of the utmost urgency that all incidents of the kind should be promptly and rigidly suppressed and that unverified reports should not be allowed to circulate, in order that time may be afforded, without provocation on either side, for a full examination of the possibilities of settlement. His Majesty's Government are confident that both Governments concerned are fully alive to these considerations. 6. His Majesty's Government have said enough to make their own attitude plain in the particular matters at issue between Germany and Poland. They trust the German Chancellor will not think, because His Majesty's Government are scrupulous concerning their obligations to Poland, they are not anxious to use their influence to assist the achievement of a solution which may commend itself both to Germany and to Poland. That such a settlement should be achieved seems to His Majesty's Government essential not only for reasons directly arising in regard to the settlement itself, but also because of the wider considerations of which the German Chancellor has spoken with such conviction. 7. It is unnecessary in the present reply to stress the advantage of a peaceful settlement over a decision to settle the questions at issue by force of arms. The results of a decision to use force have been clearly set out in the Prime Minister s letter to the Chancellor of the 22nd August, and His Majesty's Government do not doubt that they are as fully recognized by the Chancellor as by themselves. On the other hand, His Majesty's Government, noting with interest the German Chancellor's reference in the message now under consideration to a limitation of armaments, believe that, if a peaceful settlement can be obtained, the assistance of the world could confidently be anticipated for practical measures to enable transit from the preparation for war to normal activities of peaceful trade to be safely and smoothly effected. 8. A just settlement of these questions between Germany and Poland may open the way to world peace. Failure to reach it would ruin the hopes of better understanding between Germany and Great Britain, and would bring the two countries into conflict, and might well plunge the whole world into war. Such an outcome would be a calamity without parallel in history.

(5) REPLY FROM HERR HITLER TO HIS MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, DATED 29th AUGUST, 1939. The British Ambassador in Berlin lias submitted to the British Government suggestions which I felt bound to make in order : (1) To give expression once more to the will of the Reich Government for sincere Anglo-German understanding, co-operation, and friendship; (2) to leave no room for doubt as to the fact that such an understanding could not be bought at the price of a renunciation of vital German interests, let alone the abandonment of demands which are based as much upon common human justice as upon national dignity and the honour of our people. The German Government have noted with satisfaction from the reply of the British Government and from the oral explanations given by the British Ambassador that the British Government for their part are also prepared to improve the relationship between Germany and England and to develop and extend it in the sense of the German suggestion. In this connection the British Government are similarly convinced that" the removal of German-Polish tension, which has become unbearable, is prerequisite for the realization of this hope. Since autumn of the past year, and on the last occasion in March, 1939, there were submitted to the Polish Government proposals, both oral and written, having regard to the friendship then existing between Germany and Poland which" offered the possibility of a solution of the questions in dispute acceptable to both parties. The British Government are aware that the Polish Government saw fit in March last finally to reject these proposals. At the same time they used this rejection as a pretext or an occasion for taking military measures which have since been continuously intensified. Already in the middle of last month Poland was in effect in a state of mobilization. This was accompanied by numerous

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