760F.62/660: Telegram
The Ambassador in Poland (Biddle) to the Secretary of State
[Extract]
Warsaw, September 5, 1938—4
p.m.
[Received September 7—5:30 p.m.]
[Received September 7—5:30 p.m.]
168. For the President and Secretary. This morning’s conversations with Polish officialdom revealed in effect following:
- 1.
- Beck stated his opinion that news that President Roosevelt was remaining close to desk over weekend on top of the force of implications of his recent effective Canadian speech on heels of the Secretary’s recent effective address had undoubtedly had sobering effect on Nazi officialdom in terms of a “stop look and listen” sign. Indeed the tempo of American public opinion was factor of consideration to greater extent than Berlin would care to have known.
- 2.
- He added that his reports indicated that the gap between Beneš’ recent offer and the reported Sudeten counterproposal was sufficiently narrow to prompt his belief. The way was open for a peaceful settlement if Hitler really wanted one.
- 3.
- Beck continued to feel that there were as yet no signs that Hitler with whom alone amongst Berlin Nazi circles the final decision rested had come to any definite decision. Beck added an expression of his feeling that while the Nazi Government had gone very far this [Page 577] time and while it would be difficult for Hitler to “climb down” nevertheless Hitler was neither as prudent nor as bold as the world considered him.
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Biddle