Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1939, General, Volume I

740.0011 European War, 1939/53: Telegram

The Ambassador in France (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State

Paris, September 4, 1939—5 p.m.
[Received September 4—2:23 p.m.]

1772. I have just talked with Leger³¹ about the general political situation.

It is his opinion that Italy will remain neutral provided France and England show that they are absolutely determined to carry on this war without flinching until Hitler and Hitlerism have been destroyed.

He believes that if, on the contrary, there is any inclination in either France or England to make peace at the expense of Poland, Italy will at once demand a pound of flesh under the threat of war.

Leger believes that the Soviet Union will not attack Poland if Poland continues to be able to put up a stiff resistance to Germany but if Polish resistance to Germany should collapse, the Soviet Union, in his opinion, would seize eastern Poland as far as the River Bug, as well as the Baltic States.

Bullitt

31. Alexis Léger, Secretary General of the French Ministry for Foreign Affairs.