741.60C/58: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 5—6:47 p.m.]
447. Just had a conference with Beck. He told me that the situation tonight in relation to the negotiations is much better than this morning when the British were dissatisfied, as they felt he was not giving the cooperation they felt they must have. Beck’s answer was: “There is no sense in getting the cheers in London and sweat blood tomorrow or when I get back to Poland; I shall not promise you anything I am not sure that I can deliver”. However, after contacting Poland today and after further negotiations this afternoon they have come to a reciprocal agreement: England fights for Poland and Poland fights for England. The Prime Minister will give out a statement in the House of Commons tomorrow afternoon which will be their common statement. It will not contain full details as they are to be worked out in the course of the next 2 weeks. One of the most important points which will not be made public at this time is the agreement of Poland to fight to protect the sovereignty of its neighbors. Tonight Beck has agreed to this. Beck also agreed to use method at his command to work out an agreement with Germany contingent of course on (1) not losing national respect and (2) not being forced to accept a unilateral agreement with Germany. He feels that England’s handling of Germany so far has been too much concession in fact and too little in theory. He realizes that some method must be found whereby if Hitler is to back down he is given an opportunity to do so gracefully and Beck says if he sees the slightest [Page 113] chance of that he will notify his old friend America and his new friend Britain at once. He made the point of old and new very decidedly.
My own impression after a very friendly conference is that he is more than happy to have England’s support given in the way that it was, i. e., that Poland is the one to determine when England is to come to her rescue. He said the method by which Britain had handled this matter made it three times as easy to get Poland to agree to almost anything Britain wanted.
He tends to be most reasonable about Russian cooperation but had nothing definite to say on that. He does not want to be a tool for either Russia or for Germany. At the same time he does not want to be the direct cause of plunging the world into war and hence his willingness to do everything in reason to try and work out some plan with Germany.
Will wire you details of plans when I see Halifax tomorrow.