Office of the Historian

760C.62/423: Telegram

The Ambassador in Poland (Biddle) to the Secretary of State

Warsaw, January 10, 1939—3 p.m.
[Received 4:43 p.m.]

2. For the President and the Secretary. In short confidential conversation with Beck1 he imparted following.

1.
In general, conversations with Hitler and Ribbentrop2 proved fairly satisfactory in that Beck had been assured Poland might expect no “surprises” and that all matters bearing on Polish-German relations were negotiable and that Poland might take these negotiations in her stride.
2.
While Hitler admittedly had an interest in the Ukraine his interest had thus far been considerably exaggerated. Poland might expect Germany to “lay off” the Polish Ukrainian minority during Hitler’s eastward looking program.
3.
During tour d’horizon Hitler delivered boastful oration on his accomplishments over past year.
4.
Hitler was obviously furious and worried by President Roosevelt’s address3 and Hitler’s subordinates were apprehensive lest effects of this address and Secretary Welles’ recent statement4 prove disadvantageous to Germany’s strategic as well as economic position.
5.
Beck, voicing his and Government associates’ opinion, was profoundly impressed by President’s address.
6.
Beck emphasized Poland and France must meet at an early date to clarify their joint and respective positions vis-à-vis Germany. They were now both in the same boat and must face realities.
7.
He will discuss all phases fully tonight when I am dining quietly with him and chief-of-staff.
Biddle
  1. Józef Beck, Polish Minister for Foreign Affairs.↩
  2. Joachim von Ribbentrop, German Minister for Foreign Affairs.↩
  3. Presumably the President’s annual message to Congress, January 4, 1939; House Doc. No. 1, 76th Cong., 1st sess., or Congressional Record, vol. 84, pt. 1, p. 74.↩
  4. Presumably the radio address by the Under Secretary of State on November 6, 1938; see Department of State, Press Releases, November 12, 1938, p. 317.↩