740.0011 European War 1939/384: Telegram
The Minister in Latvia (Wiley) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 18—2:32 p.m.]
158. Foreign Office official states in strictest confidence that Germans not aware of Soviet plans to march into Poland. If the Germans [Page 439] had been cognizant of plans they would not have sent in reconnaissance plane (which Red Army shot down). Nor would German planes have attacked advancing Soviet forces as Foreign Office authoritatively informed is the case.
On the other hand Baltic German employee of Legation with family connections in Reich who has just returned from vacation in Germany states it has been common talk there since latter part of August that Soviet forces would invade Poland on September 15. On September 16th disappointment was expressed, succeeded by jubilation on 17th (see sentence my 116, September 7, 1 p.m.65).
In telephone conversation with Vilna at 4 p.m. Legation was informed neither Soviet nor German forces were as yet in that city.
- Not printed.↩