760C.62/1208: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 30—4:42 p.m.]
1325. Personal for the Secretary. My 1324, August 30, 7 p.m. I have just seen the Prime Minister. The whole discussion was taken up with the subject matter contained in my No. 1321, August 30, 5 p.m. He is not kidding himself that this thing is settled by any manner of means and sees great difficulties ahead. Frankly he is more worried about getting the Poles to be reasonable than the Germans. He feels there is a great body of public opinion in England headed probably by Eden92 and Churchill93 who will suggest to the Poles that they give up nothing and that they have Hitler on the run. This, of course, will mean war but in the meantime he is urging Henderson to keep telling Hitler that after all the Danzig situation is a small item and that what really needs to be done is to work out the whole European economic political problem, which Chamberlain, now with England solidly behind him, is willing to do with Hitler if Hitler will cooperate. He is hoping that the Poles will give the matter serious consideration and attempt to work something out. During that period, while the British cannot urge the Poles to make concessions, they can at least point out the value of a settlement to the future of Poland. Of course, he always remembers Czechoslovakia in this picture and that gives him great misgivings. He is not at all enthusiastic about the prospects, but he is hopeful.