760F.62/923: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 20—11:25 a.m.]
1518. While I was lunching with Sir Eric Phipps, the British Ambassador, Bonnet telephoned in great excitement to say that he had just heard from Beneš that the Czech Government had not yet decided what course to pursue but was considering two alternatives; 1, to appeal for general arbitration of the minority question in Czechoslovakia; 2, to accept the British-French proposal.
Bonnet said further that he believed that if Beneš should appeal for arbitration German troops would enter Czechoslovakia tonight. He was therefore about to urge the Czech Government in the strongest terms to accept the British-French proposal at once.
The British Ambassador said he had replied to Bonnet that he was so sure of the position of his Government that, without consulting his Government, he would at once telephone to Praha and tell the British Minister to express the opinion to the Czechoslovak Government that if the Czechoslovak Government should appeal for arbitration German troops would enter Czechoslovakia tonight.
The British Ambassador added that both the French and British Governments had made it entirely clear to Beneš that if he should not accept the British-French proposal and German troops should enter Czechoslovakia no support would be accorded to Czechoslovakia by either Great Britain or France. The British Ambassador then telephoned to the British Minister in Praha and also to the Foreign Office in London which indicated entire accord with his views and actions.
The final Czech reply is expected by Bonnet at 3 o’clock this afternoon.