ADSS 1.43 Filippo Cortesi, Poland to Luigi Maglione, Sec
State.
Reference:
Report 221 (AES 2605/39)
Location
and date: Warsaw, 15.05.1939
Summary
statement: German-Polish tensions; Poland will resist German claims; believe Germany
is set on destroying Poland.
Language:
Italian
Text:
I
have the duty of thanking your Eminence for the clear statements contained in
your coded dispatch of 10.05.1939 (1), in accordance with which I have already
given, at an opportune moment, useful clarifications to the Government, who
seemed to be expecting them.
The
Minister (2) expressed his appreciation and his full agreement, adding that the
Polish Government valued very highly the eager interest shown by the Holy
Father in the preservation of peace, and promised to keep me informed about the
development of the issue between Poland and Germany.
The
position has not changed since the speech of the Chancellor of the Reich, and
the reply of the Foreign Minister, M. Beck: the former wants the annexation of
Danzig and a motorway and a railway giving access to East Prussia, which would
mean handing over a strip of territory of about 900 square kilometres to
Germany; the latter firmly rejects both claims. (3)
Although
both leave an opening in their statements for the possibility of friendly
negotiations, no step has been taken so far in this direction and the tension
arising from the Reich’s unilateral denunciation of the “non-aggression” Treaty
of 1934 is still grave.
Government
and people in Poland, without any difference, are unanimous, firm and decided
to remain in this position, convinced that the independence and the integrity
of the Country is at stake and confident in the righteousness of the cause they
defend, in their own strength and in the grace of God.
I
must stress that this Government endeavours with great care and attention to
leave no doubts about its desire for peace and collaboration with all nations,
starting with its neighbours; they affirm the continuity of their policy of keeping
out of any political bloc, and explain in particular how the agreement of
mutual defence with Great Britain cannot be construed as a hostile or
aggressive act against the Reich.
Regarding
this subject the Minister asked me to inform your Eminence that his Government
not only refuse the invitation to participate in an agreement with Russia as
they have no intention of binding themselves, but are exerting pressure on
Great Britain to limit the extent of their agreement with Russia.
I
said that the situation is still grave, and it is so although the Polish
Government have stated, in a conciliatory manner, their willingness to carry
out a revision of the Statutes of the Free City of Danzig, in order to give it
the utmost autonomy, and to build with Polish money a motorway through Polish
territory to give the Reich free access to East Prussia.
In
the meantime, both sides continue their preparations for war, and, although
public opinion in general remains calm, the state of unrest grows amongst the
German minorities in Poland and with it the chances of a conflict.
A
highly-placed person, not Polish, informs me confidentially that, according to
news received from a well-informed Berlin source, Hitler is preparing to exert
diplomatic pressure on this Government to satisfy his claims. This person thinks that Hitler has the
partition of Poland in mind.
The
German Ambassador, now back in Warsaw, has not yet called on the Foreign
Minister. (4)
In
general, there is no hope here of a peaceful direct settlement.
Notes:
(1)
See ADSS 1.38.
(2)
Possibly Felicjan Slawoj Skladowski (1885-1962), Prime Minister of Poland
1936-39.
(3)
See ADSS 1.17 for Hitler’s speech and ADSS 1.26 for Beck’s response.
(4)
Hans-Adolf Moltke (1884-1943), German Ambassador to Poland 1934-39.
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