JOINT NOTE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 September 1939, Page 5

JOINT NOTE

PRESENTED BY AMBASSADORS IN BERLIN • I . f Mr Chamberlain Denounces Hitler ALONE RESPONSIBLE FOR TERRIBLE CATASTROPHE (Received This Day, 11.8 a.m.) (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 1. The British and French Ambassadors in. Berlin have been instructed to hand the German Government a joint Note as follows:— “Early this morning the German Chancellor issued a proclamation to.the German Army which indicated, clearly that he was about to attack Poland. Information which has reached the United Kingdom and French Governments indicates that German troops have crossed the Polish frontier and that attacks on Polish towns are proceeding. In these circumstances, it appears to the British and French Governments that by their action the German Government have created conditions—namely an aggressive act of force against Poland, threatening the independence of Poland—which calls for the immediate implementation by the British and French Governments of the undertaking to Poland to come to her assistance. I am accordingly to inform your Excellency that unless the German Government are prepared to give an assurance that the German Government have suspended all aggressive action against Poland and are prepared promptly to withdraw their forces from Polish territory, his Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom will without hesitation fulfil their obligations to Poland. ’ ’ The terms of the Note were loudly cheered when they were read in the House of Commons by Mr. Chamberlain, who added: “If the reply to this last warning is unfavourable and I do not suggest that it. is likely to be otherwise, the British Ambassador is instructed to ask for his passport.’’ After a slight pause, Mr. Chamberlain said, amid renewed cheering: “lit that case, we are ready.” Earlier, in a short but vigorous and deeply impressive speech, which was punctuated with full-thrqated cheers, Mr. Chamberlain said: “Now that all the relevant documents are being made public, we shall stand at the bar of history, knowing that responsibility for this terrible catastrophe lies on the shoulders of one man. The German Chancellor has not hesitated to plunge the world into misery to serve his own senseless ambitions. ’ ’ At the end, Mr. Chamberlain declared: “We shall enter the struggle with a clear conscience and with the support of the Dominions and the British Empire and the moral approval of the greater part of the world. We have no quarrel with the German people except that they have allowed themselves to be governed by a Nazi Government. As long as that Government pursues the methods which it has so persistently followed during the last two years, there would be no peace in Europe. ’ ’ “Wo should merely pass from one crisis Io another, and see one country attacked after another, by methods which now have become familiar to us, with their sickening technique. We are resolved that these methods must come to an end and if after the struggle, we can re-establish in the world the rules of good 'faith and renunciation of force, then even the sacrifices entailed upon us will find their fullest justification.” Polish Resistance NOTIFICATION TO GERMANY EMBASSY STAFF LEAVES BERLIN This Day, 8.5 a.m ) BERLIN, September 1. THE POLISH AMBASSADOR CALLED AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE, INFORMING IT THAT POLAND INTENDED TO RESIST AGGRESSION WITH ALL HER FORCES AND DEFEND HER HONOUR AND INDEPENDENCE. THE EMBASSY STAFF IS LEAVING IMMEDIATELY.