760F.62/1311: Telegram
The Ambassador in Poland (Biddle) to the Secretary of State
Warsaw, September 29, 1938—11
a.m.
[Received 1:40 p.m.]
[Received 1:40 p.m.]
216. For the President and Secretary.
- 1.
- Supplementing my telegram No. 212, September 28th, 9 a.m.2 Beck is grateful for your having sent him copy of your last message to Hitler.3 At 8:30 a.m. yesterday he had felt that your reported suggestion to Hitler for a conference of all nations directly interested in the present controversy might conceivably prove the last minute formula which would permit all parties gracefully to resume negotiations. Now (10:30 a.m.) he definitely feels your timely constructive suggestion proved the factor that gave rise to subsequent international efforts which turned the tide of grave events. Indeed the scope of conference you suggested manifested a clearer long range perspective on your part, in relation to potential settlement of Czechoslovak problem than that so far evidenced by Western European [Page 698] diplomatists who apparently tried to apply separate and priority treatment to Sudeten problem. Beck feels only an integral settlement would prove solution of Czechoslovak minorities problem.
- 2.
- I discern that while Beck greets news of Munich Conference as emergency measure of preventing war he is disappointed Poland is not included. However, I gained impression he had received encouraging assurances either from Paris, London or both that scope of Munich Conference would later be extended to include Poland.
Biddle