741.60c/62: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 6—8:55 p.m.]
665. Leger read to me this evening a telegram which he received today from Corbin, French Ambassador in London, giving the exact position of the Polish-British negotiations in London.
Beck promised that Poland would go to war on the side of Great Britain in case of an attack by any power on Great Britain in return for the similar promise by Great Britain.
Lord Halifax then said to Beck that Great Britain was pledged to go to the support not only of France but also of Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands in case of a German or other attack on those powers. Thus Great Britain might be drawn into war with Germany through an attack that was not in the first instance directed against Great Britain but touched vital neighboring countries. Halifax then asked Beck if the Polish promise to go to war on the side of Great Britain would cover a war provoked by invasion of the Netherlands, Belgium or Switzerland.
Beck said that he could not make any such promise without most careful thought, and has not yet replied. Beck will have a further talk with Halifax tonight and will presumably give an answer of one sort or another.
Beck also was most embarrassed when Halifax said to him that both France and England had made offers of mutual assistance agreements [Page 117] to Rumania and that 4 days ago the Government of Rumania had replied that it would be glad to enter into such agreements.
Halifax requested Poland to enter into a similar agreement with Rumania.
Beck replied that, inasmuch as Poland had what amounted to a defensive alliance with Hungary, Poland would be most embarrassed if it were necessary to enter into a defensive alliance with Rumania that included defense against Hungary. Halifax continued to argue this point but Beck said he must reserve judgment.
The two undecided points mentioned above were those which prevented the signature of a pact of mutual assistance between Great Britain and Poland and supplementary agreements.
Leger asserted that if Poland should refuse to make a pact of mutual assistance with Rumania both France and England were prepared to withdraw their promises of assistance to Poland.
Corbin reported that Halifax still felt confident that he could obtain complete satisfaction from Beck on both these points.
Leger on the other hand said he believed that while Beck might accept the obligation vis-à-vis the Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland he would refuse to accept the obligation vis-à-vis Rumania. Thus he could return to Warsaw and say to Moscicki85 and Smigly-Rydz, “I did everything I could but the demands of the British were impossible” and could thus continue his old policy of working on the German side.
Inasmuch as Beck and Leger are mortal enemies I feel that Leger’s opinion is not to be taken too seriously; but that the truth probably lies somewhere between Halifax’s optimism and Leger’s pessimism.
Beck has indicated that he would like to see me while his train is passing through France. I shall therefore spend an hour and a half with him tomorrow while traveling from Calais to Lille.
- Ignace Moscicki, President of Poland.↩