ADSS
1.218 Secretariat of State to the British Legation
Reference: AES 8223/39
Location and date: Vatican,
13.11.1939
Summary statement: Details
of steps taken in August 1939 with Warsaw in favour of peace.
Language: Italian
Text:
Draft 1
Minister Beck (1), contrary
to what had been suggested to him by Mr Howard Kennard, Ambassador of Great
Britain to Warsaw (2), did not let the Holy See know that he was prepared to
consider an exchange of populations and also to accept neutral observers in
order to demonstrate that German accusations of maltreatments were unfounded;
in fact M. Beck did not even accept proposals suggested by the Holy See on this
subject:
In fact:
1. On 15 August, His
Excellency, the Cardinal Secretary of State requested Monsignor Cortesi,
Apostolic Nuncio in Warsaw, to ask the Polish Government if it thought that the
Secretariat of State could make some approach and if so what, to precent the
situation getting worse. (3) Mons Cortesi, spoke on this subject to the Foreign
Under-Secretary (4) who was not able to give a precise answer, although he
stated that there was the possibility of a peaceful understanding. (5)
2. On 26 August, His
Eminence the Cardinal Secretary of State, having heard that it could be helpful
if Poland, following an invitation from the Holy See, declared itself ready to
prevent the alleged maltreatment of citizens of German nationality, if Germany,
for its part, would make the same promise regarding the Polish people in German
territory, instructed the Apostolic Nuncio in Warsaw to put this suggestion
before the Polish Government asking if such a declaration on the part of the
Polish Government could be brought to the knowledge of the German Government
through the Apostolic Nuncio in Berlin. (6)
M. Beck, replying to the
communication of Mons Cortesi, expressed fear that the Germans would take
advantage of the above-mentioned Polish declaration as a confirmation of the
alleged persecutions of the German minority, and suggested, as a better
solution, the idea of an invitation of the Holy See to the Polish and German
Governments to check the excitement created in their respective countries
regarding the situation of the minorities (27 August). (7)
3. On 31 August the Cardinal
Secretary of State instructed the Apostolic Nuncio in Warsaw to give the Polish
Government the opportunity to accept an international control on the alleged
persecution of the German minority. (8)
Owing to the outbreak of hostilities
the proposal had no sequel.
Draft II
Concern of the Holy See to
avoid the question of the minorities being used as a pretext for war between
Germany and Poland.
1. On 14 August 1939, the
Holy See received news that Germany was massing troops at the Polish border and
that the situation was getting worse. (9) The Cardinal Secretary of State
immediately instructed the apostolic Nuncio in Warsaw to ask the Polish
Government if it thought that the Secretary of State could take some initiative
and, eventually, to suggest one (15 August). (10)
Mons Cortesi conferred on
the subject with the Foreign Under-Secretary, but the latter was not able to
give a precise answer, although he affirmed that there was a possibility of a
peaceful understanding (18 August). (11)
2. On 26 August the Cardinal
Secretary of State received a communication from a reliable source that war was
approaching and that it was opportune to make a new attempt for averting it:
perhaps it might help if Poland, accepting suggestion of the Holy See, declared
itself ready to prevent the alleged persecutions , and if Germany, for its
part, undertook the same commitment regarding the Polish people in German
territory. (12) Immediately, on the same day, the Apostolic Nuncio in Warsaw
was instructed to submit the matter to the Polish Government asking if such a
declaration on the part of the Polish Government could be made know to the
German Government through the Apostolic Nuncio. (13)
Mons Cortesi immediately
informed Minister Beck about the proposal, but the Minister expressed the fear
that the Germans could take advantage of the possible Polish declaration as if
it were an admission of the alleged persecutions of the German minority, and
suggested, as another solution, the idea of an invitation by the Holy See to
the Polish and German Governments to check the excitement created in their
respective countries regarding the position of the minorities (27 August). (14)
3. On 28 August the idea was
put forward to the Holy See to ask the German and Polish Governments what
measure they thought was necessary to guarantee the situation of the minorities.
(15)
The Apostolic Nuncio in
Berlin was informed immediately about this proposal (29 August) (16), but he
replied that he considered that the German Government thought it impossible to
guarantee the protection of the minorities unless an international control was
set up (30 August). (17)
4. Following this
communication the Cardinal Secretary of State instructed the Papal (?) Nuncio
in Warsaw to submit for the consideration of the Polish Government, the
opportunity of accepting international control over the alleged persecution of
the German minority (31 August). (18)
War broke out and the
initiative was abandoned.
The conclusion to be drawn
form what is said above, is that M. Beck did not accept the suggestion put
forward to him by Mr Howard Kennard, Ambassador of Great Britain, on 27 August,
that is, to inform the Holy Father that he was prepared to consider an exchange
of populations and to accept neutral observers with the aim of demonstrating
that the German accusations regarding the persecutions had no foundation in
truth. (See Documents concerning
German-Polish Relations and the outbreak of hostilities between Great Britain
and Germany on 3 September, 1939, p124, number 72) (19)
Notes:
(1) Jozef Beck (1894-1944),
Polish Minister for Foreign Affairs 1932-39.
(2) Howard Kennard
(1878-1955), British Ambassador to Poland 1937-39.
(3) ADSS 1.95
(4) Miroslaw Arciszewski
(1892-1963), Polish Under-Secretary Foreign Affairs 1938-39.
(5) ADSS 1.102
(6) ADSS 1.133. Cesare
Orsenigo (1873-1946), Nuncio to Germany 1930-45.
(7) ADSS 1.136
(8) ADSS 1.161
(9) ADSS 1.94
(10) ADSS 1.95
(11) ADSS 1.102
(12) ADSS 1.123
(13) ADSS 1.133
(14) ADSS 1.135
(15) ADSS 1.141
(16) ADSS 1.146
(17) ADSS 1.150
(18) ADSS 1.168
Sir H. Kennard to Viscount
Halifax (received 5:05 p. m.).
(Telegraphic.) Warsaw,
August 27, 1939.
Your telegrams of 25th and 26th August.[Nos. 70 and 71.]
I discussed questions of exchange of populations and neutral observers with M.
Beck this morning.
2. As regards first, he said that in principle he saw no objection and was
prepared to convey to German Government that he was ready to consider such a
proposal, possibly not directly to State Secretary, but in such a manner that
he was sure it would reach the highest authorities.
3. As regards question of neutral observers, he had again consulted President
of the Council, but he would let me know his decision in the course of the day.
4. As he told me that the Pope had during the night, through the Nuncio, asked
if there was anything he could do, I suggested to M. Beck that he should inform
His Holiness that he was prepared to consider an exchange of populations and
also use of neutral observers in order to demonstrate that German accusations
of maltreatment were completely without foundation. The Pope could then
communicate these proposals to the German Government with approval of Polish
Government. M. Beck seemed to consider this favourably and promised he would
give it his immediate consideration. I warned him that there was no time to
lose.
5. As regards Danzig, M. Beck did not from his latest information anticipate
fait accompli there to-day or in very immediate future. For the moment all was
quiet there as far as he knew.
6. I again emphasised to his Excellency importance of his giving sufficient
warning to His Majesty's Government of any action which Polish Government or
army contemplated taking as result of any fait accompli at Danzig. His
Excellency again promised to do this, though he made reservation that situation
might arise where immediate action would be necessary.
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