740.0011 European War, 1939/332: Telegram
The Minister in Rumania (Gunther) to the Secretary of State
[Received 1:45 p.m.]
198. Following from Biddle:40
“Series Z3. September 14, 6 p.m. My confidential conversation with Beck41 yesterday morning reveals following: (a) Germans had destroyed almost all Polish war industry; (b) situation now extremely difficult, nevertheless Beck joined Marshal Smigly-Rydz42 in emphasizing that Polish Army would defend even the last foot of Polish soil; (c) impression rapidly gaining ground among military and other official circles that Great Britain and France are staging more of a demonstration than a serious attack; (d) Beck’s current reports indicate that official circles in London and Paris state that [Page 428] British and French planes hesitate to bomb German railways, other communications, power plants and war industry centers because of potential effect on American public opinion (another ranking army officer interjected that if the French and British hesitated to bombard along these lines why did they not send airplanes for Polish pilots to carry out the disagreeable task. For the latter it would be a case of justified retaliation). Beck concluded by emphasizing that this was a dramatic moment for Poland—perhaps a matter even of Poland’s life or death.
I discern that both the Foreign Minister and the Marshal feel that if the French and British do not embark immediately upon a major shock attack it may spell the end of Poland.”
- Anthony J. Drexel Biddle, Jr., American Ambassador to Poland. For correspondence concerning the evacuation from Poland of the American Mission, see vol. ii , section entitled “Evacuation of the American Embassy Staff …” under Poland.↩
- Józef Beck, Polish Minister for Foreign Affairs.↩
- Marshal Edward Smigly-Rydz, Inspector General of the Polish Army.↩