Office of the Historian

760F.62/1078: Telegram

The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy) to the Secretary of State

London, September 26, 1938—1 p.m.
[Received September 26—8:30 a.m.]

1025. Have just heard from Cadogan. Message that Sir Horace Wilson is taking to Hitler79 is no agreement at all with Hitler’s terms; it merely asks him to use reason and try to maintain negotiations.

The British and French have completely agreed to fight if Hitler makes any steps after he turns down this proposition.

They are very happy about the President’s message and they believe that the story is now nearly finished and that they have made every effort to preserve peace. If war comes they know they are going to get hell but they are now reconciled.

I am expecting to see Halifax within the next few minutes.

Kennedy
  1. British Documents, 3d ser., vol. ii, doc. No. 1097, p. 541.↩