760F.62/1186: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 28—7:23 a.m.]
1064. The Prime Minister just telephoned and said that early this morning he sent two wires, one to Hitler and one to Mussolini. To Hitler he said:
“After reading your letter that came last night I want you to know that I feel more strongly than ever that your demands can be satisfied within a comparatively short time—2 weeks it would seem to me—and I will come to Germany to discuss it with you at once and give you the assurances of France and ourselves regardless of what you think of Beneš or the Czechs’ promises, that they will be carried out. I suggested also that possibly you and ourselves and Italy and France get together in a meeting and work out this problem. We must not have a war that will end civilization.”91
His message to Mussolini notified him that he had wired Hitler to this effect and urged Mussolini to use his influence toward having the problem settled without war.
- This appears to be the substance rather than the text of the Prime Minister’s message; for text, see British Documents, 3d ser., vol. ii, doc. No. 1158, p. 587.↩