760C.62/702: Telegram
The Ambassador in Poland (Biddle) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4:13 p.m.]
142. 1. Whereas Danzig Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman, Dr. Boettcher was somewhat guarded in our December conversations12 and struck me as a “repressed imperialist” he manifested comparatively marked aggressiveness during our conversation of July 9 in Danzig, as illustrated by his remarks that Danzig from Germany’s [Page 198] point of view was only a part of the whole question which also included the Corridor and Upper Silesia (see Marshal Smigly-Rydz’ remarks my despatch No. 1115, June 24,13 page 2, paragraph 2). This was Germany’s policy and had to be accomplished regardless of Poland’s wishes. It was unfortunate that Britain continued in refusal to make agreement with Germany for this might lead to a close understanding between Germany, Britain, and the United States which would prove best guarantee to world peace. Such understanding, however, would necessarily be conditioned upon a free hand for Germany in Eastern and Central Europe whereby Germany could move her frontiers when and where she deemed necessary.
2. Tone of these remarks corresponds with League High Commissioner Burckhardt’s confidential disclosure that the attitude respectively of East Prussian Gauleiter Koch, German Consul General Von Janson, and Danzig Gauleiter Forster had become markedly aggressive and imperialistic during the past week.
3. Of pertinent bearing, in response to Estonian Minister Markus’ question yesterday as to what concessions Germany might be willing to grant Poland in the event of reopening of negotiations over Danzig German Ambassador Moltke stated Germany would let Poland keep Corridor which together with access to the sea Poland could keep only by the “grace of Germany”.
4. The aforementioned individuals’ imperialistic tone might possibly have been assumed in compliance with orders from Berlin as a part of Berlin’s tactics of psychological terrorism. However, if this tone reflects the true attitude both of Berlin and aforementioned individuals, hopes for a reasonable and just settlement of the Danzig question seem remote.