740.00/491
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State
The Ambassador of Poland called on his own request. He had just returned from Warsaw. He said that conditions in Europe were serious and uncertain in more ways than one; that he thought his Government had come out of the situation with increased prestige. He said nothing about how this was accomplished. Our conversation was interrupted before I had a chance to comment on these phases. The Ambassador said he would be glad to return during the coming week and complete his conversation with me.22 I inquired what he knew about just when Hitler decided that he could announce his ultimatum. He replied that his own Foreign Minister Beck had informed him that Hitler decided during the middle of September he could get what territory he wanted without fighting for it. I then inquired whether, in the judgment of the Ambassador, Hitler would be content to carry out his announcement that he wanted no more territory. The Ambassador replied that he did not believe a word of it. I inquired as to whether the Polish Government was apprehensive about the future of the Corridor and Danzig. He replied that Danzig was 80% German; that it had self-government in virtually every desirable sense and, in his opinion, the German Government would not be disposed to interfere with this situation.