762.65/365
The Ambassador in Poland (Biddle) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 27.]
Sir:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
In the course of several conversations with Colonel Beck since my arrival at this post, I have gained the distinct impression that he desires close and even friendly relations with Germany as the less direct of the two threats facing Polish integrity and that he welcomes cooperation between Germany and Italy in opposition to Communist Russia which he regards as the direct and immediate threat to Poland. He appears nevertheless to be of the opinion that there is at the present time no compelling or natural reason for close cooperation between Germany and Italy, and I am of the opinion that this feeling is as much as anything else responsible for Poland’s lack of concern as expressed in the statement summarized above as outward evidences of Italian-German solidarity. In fact, my views in this regard were reinforced by Colonel Beck when he made the following observation during the course of a recent conversation on his impressions at Geneva:
“With respect to activities at Geneva, I desire to stress my opinion that the League is continuing to an even greater degree than heretofore to demonstrate a prejudiced attitude towards the Rome-Berlin axis. I feel that the Rome-Berlin axis is still artificial as to basis, but if the league persists in this attitude of prejudice it is very apt to throw Rome and Berlin into a closer contact, and thus over a period of time to promote a block based on a real foundation in place of the present artificial one.”
Respectfully yours,