740.00116 European War 1939/57: Telegram
The Minister in Rumania (Gunther) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:05 a.m.]
For the President. The following telegram for you has been received by the Polish Ambassador here who has handed it to me for transmission.
“On instruction from President Moscicki I have the honor to forward the following telegram:
‘Mr. President, in reply to your telegram regarding the non-bombardment of open towns you received from the Polish Government a clear and straightforward answer. In connection with this, I consider it my duty to inform you that for some days past German aircraft have deliberately and methodically been bombing Polish towns and villages which contain no conceivable military objectives. Among the civil population there are thousands of dead and wounded. As this is a question which concerns the whole civilized world and as you, Mr. President, have shown a special interest in it, I wish to inform you of these facts. Ignacy Moscicki, General Headquarters.’
Beck.”
In handing this message to me he commented upon omission of mention of machine gunning from the air of refugees upon the roads and other civilians, reportedly including Papal Nuncio and various members of Diplomatic Corps.