The British War Bluebook

Title Page

Summary of Contents

List of Principal Persons Mentioned in the Documents, Showing Their Official Positions.

• No.1 : Text of German-Polish Agreement of January 26, 1934.

Statements Made by Herr Hitler Since The German-Polish Agreement Recording His Satisfaction at the Improvement in German-Polish Relations.

• No. 2 : Reichstag Speech, May 21, 1935.
• No. 3 : Reichstag Speech, March 7, 1936.
• No. 4 : Reichstag Speech, January 30, 1937.
• No. 5 : Reichstag Speech, February 20, 1938.
• No. 6 : Speech at Nuremberg, September 14, 1938.
• No. 7 : Speech in the Sportpalast, September 26, 1938.
• No. 8 : Reichstag Speech, January 30, 1939.

Deterioration in European Situation Resulting From German Action Against Czecho-Slovakia on March 15, 1939.

• No. 9 : Speech by the Prime Minister at Birmingham on March 17, 1939.
• No. 10 : Speech by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in the House of Lords on March 20, 1939.
• No. 11 : Question and the Prime Minister's answer in the House of Commons on March 23, 1939.
• No. 12 : Sir N. Henderson to Viscount Halifax.

German-Polish Discussions.

Explanatory Note.
Certain discussions took place between the German and Polish Governments at the end of 1938 and in the early part of 1939. The German and Polish statements regarding these negotiations are to be found in the annexed documents.

• No. 13 : Extract from Herr Hitler's speech to the Reichstag on April 28, 1939.
• No. 14 : German Government Memorandum handed to the Polish Government on April 28, 1939.
• No. 15 : Speech made by M. Beck, the Polish Minister for Foreign Affairs in Parliament on May 5, 1939.
• No. 16 : Memorandum communicated to the German Government by the Polish Government on May 5, 1939, in reply to the German Government memorandum of April 28, 1939.

Anglo-Polish Agreement.

• No. 17 : Statement by the Prime Minister in the House of Commons on March 31, 1939.
• No. 18 : Anglo-Polish communiqué issued on April 6, 1939.
• No. 19 : Agreement of Mutual Assistance between the United Kingdom and Poland.-London, August 25, 1939.

Developments in Anglo-German Relations.

• No. 20 : Speech by Herr Hitler at Wilhelmshaven on April 1, 1939.
• No. 21 : Extract from speech by Herr Hitler to the Reichstag on April 28, 1939.
• No. 22 : Memorandum from the German Government denouncing the Anglo-German Naval Agreement.
• No. 23 : Viscount Halifax to Sir N. Henderson (Berlin).
• No. 24 : Memorandum from His Majesty's Government of June 23, 1939, replying to the German memorandum denouncing the Anglo-German Naval Agreement.
• No. 25 : Speech by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs at Chatham House on June 29, 1939.

Deterioration in the Local Situation at Danzig.

• No. 26 : Note from the President of the Danzig Senate to the Polish Commissioner-General of June 3, 1939, about the question of Polish Customs Inspectors.
• No. 27 : Sir H. Kennard to Viscount Halifax. June 11, 1939.
• No. 28 : Sir H. Kennard to Viscount Halifax. June 27, 1939.
• No. 29 : Mr. G. Shepherd to Viscount Halifax. June 28, 1939.
• No. 30 : Viscount Halifax to Sir H. Kennard, June 30, 1939.
• No. 31 : Mr. G. Shepherd to Viscount Halifax. June 30, 1939.
• No. 32 : Mr. Norton to Viscount Halifax. July 1, 1939.
• No. 33 : Mr. G. Shepherd to Viscount Halifax. July 1, 1939.
• No. 34 : Mr. Norton to Viscount Halifax. July 3, 1939.

British Attitude Towards Developments in Danzig.

• No. 35 : Statement by the Prime Minister in the House of Commons on July 10, 1939.
• No. 36 : Sir N. Henderson to Viscount Halifax. July 15, 1939.

Temporary Easing in the Danzig Situation.

• No. 37 : Mr. Shepherd to Viscount Halifax. July 19, 1939.
• No. 38 : Viscount Halifax to Mr. Norton, July 21, 1939.
• No. 39 : Mr. Norton to Viscount Halifax. July 25, 1939.
• No. 40 : Mr. F. M. Shepherd to Viscount Halifax. July 25, 1939.
• No. 41 : Sir H. Kennard to Viscount Halifax. July 31, 1939.
• No. 42 : Sir H. Kennard to Viscount Halifax. August 2, 1939.

Further Deterioration in the Situation at Danzig.

• No. 43 : Mr. Norton to Viscount Halifax. August 4, 1939.
• No. 44 : Mr. F. M. Shepherd to Viscount Halifax. August 4, 1939.
• No. 45 : Sir H. Kennard to Viscount Halifax. August 9, 1939.
• No. 46 : Sir H. Kennard to Viscount Halifax. August 10, 1939.
• No. 47 : Sir H. Kennard to Viscount Halifax. August 10, 1939.
• No. 48 : Sir N. Henderson to Viscount Halifax. August 16, 1939.
• No. 49 : Explanatory Note on Herr Hitler's Meeting with M. Burckhardt on August 11, 1939.
• No. 50 : Viscount Halifax to Sir H. Kennard. August 15, 1939.
• No. 51 : Sir H. Kennard to Viscount Halifax. August 15, 1939.

Treatment of German Minority in Poland.

• No. 52 : Sir H. Kennard to Viscount Halifax. August 24, 1939.
• No. 53 : Sir H. Kennard to Viscount Halifax. August 26, 1939.
• No. 54 : Sir H. Kennard to Viscount Halifax. August 26, 1939.
• No. 55 : Sir H. Kennard to Viscount Halifax. August 27, 1939.

Developments Leading Immediately to the Outbreak of Hostilities Between Great Britian and Germany on September 3, 1939.

• No. 56 : Letter of August 22, 1939, from the Prime Minister to the German Chancellor.
• No. 57 : Sir N. Henderson to Viscount Halifax (received August 24).
• No. 58 : Sir N. Henderson to Viscount Halifax (received August 24).
• No. 59 : Sir N. Henderson to Viscount Halifax (received 8:30 p. m.).
• No. 60 : Communication from the German Chancellor to the Prime Minister.
• No. 61 : Non-Aggression Pact between Germany and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.
• No. 62 : Mr. F. M. Shepherd to Viscount Halifax. August 26, 1939.
• No. 63 : Sir H. Kennard to Viscount Halifax. August 24, 1939.
• No. 64 : Speech by the Prime Minister in the House of Commons on August 24, 1939.
• No. 65 : Speech by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in the House of Lords on August 24, 1939.
• No. 66 : Sir H. Kennard to Viscount Halifax. August 24, 1939.
• No. 67 : Sir H. Kennard to Viscount Halifax. August 24, 1939.
• No. 68 : Supplementary Communication from the German Chancellor handed to His Majesty's Ambassador on August 25, 1939.
• No. 69 : Sir N. Henderson to Viscount Halifax. August 25, 1939.
• No. 70 : Viscount Halifax to Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw). August 25, 1939.
• No. 71 : Viscount Halifax to Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw). August 26, 1939.
• No. 72 : Sir H. Kennard to Viscount Halifax (Received 5:5 p. m.). August 27, 1939.
• No. 73 : Viscount Halifax to Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw). August 28, 1939.
• No. 74 : Reply of His Majesty's Government dated August 28, 1939, to the German Chancellor's Communications of August 23 and 25, 1939.
• No. 75 : Sir N. Henderson to Viscount Halifax (Received 2:35 a. m. August 29). August 28, 1939.
• No. 76 : Sir N. Henderson to Viscount Halifax (Received 4:55 p. m.) Berlin, August 29, 1939.
• No. 77 : Speech by the Prime Minister in the House of Commons on August 29, 1939.
• No. 78 : Reply of the German Chancellor to the Communication of August 28, 1939, from His Majesty's Government.
• No. 79 : Sir N. Henderson to Viscount Halifax (Received 9:15 p. m.). Berlin, August 29, 1939.
• No. 80 : Sir N. Henderson to Viscount Halifax (Received 10:25 p. m.). Berlin, August 19, 1939.
• No. 81 : Viscount Halifax to Sir N. Henderson (Berlin). August 30, 1939, 2 a. m.
• No. 82 : Sir N. Henderson to Viscount Halifax (Received 1 p. m.). Berlin, August 30, 1939.
• No. 83 : Viscount Halifax to Sir N. Henderson (Berlin). August 30, 1939, 2:45 p. m.
• No. 84 : Sir H. Kennard to Viscount Halifax (Received 10 a. m.). Warsaw, August 30, 1939.
• No. 85 : Viscount Halifax to Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw). August 30, 1939, 5:30 p. m.
• No. 86 : Sir H. Kennard to Viscount Halifax (Received 8:15 p. m.). Warsaw, August 30, 1939.
• No. 87 : Viscount Halifax to Sir N. Henderson (Berlin). August 30, 1939, 5-30 p. m.
• No. 88 : Viscount Halifax to Sir N. Henderson (Berlin). August 30, 1939.
• No. 89 : Reply of His Majesty's Government to the German Chancellor's Communication of August 29, 1939.
• No. 90 : Viscount Halifax to Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw). August 30, 1939.
• No. 91 : Sir N. Henderson to Viscount Halifax (received 2:45 a. m. August 31). Berlin August 30, 1939.
• No. 92 : Sir N. Henderson to Viscount Halifax (Received 9:30 a. m. August 31). Berlin August 30, 1939.
• No. 93 : Sir H. Kennard to Viscount Halifax (Received 8 a. m.). Warsaw, August 31, 1939.
• No. 94 : Viscount Halifax to Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw). August 31, 1939.
• No. 95 : Viscount Halifax to Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw). August 31, 1939.
• No. 96 : Sir H. Kennard to Viscount Halifax (Received 7:15 p. m.) Warsaw, August 31, 1939.
• No. 97 : Sir H. Kennard to Viscount Halifax (received 6:30 p. m.). Warsaw, August 31, 1939.
• No. 98 : Message which was communicated to H.M. Ambassador in Berlin by the State Secretary on August 31, 1939, at 9:15 p. m.
• No. 99 : Viscount Halifax to Sir N. Henderson (Berlin). August 31, 1939, 11 p. m.
• No. 100 : Viscount Halifax to Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw). September 1, 1939, 12:50 a. m.
• No. 101 : Sir H. Kennard to Viscount Halifax (Dated 7 43 p. m. September 1 and Received 2 a. m. September 2). Warsaw, September 1, 1939.
• No. 102 : Sir N. Henderson to Viscount Halifax (Received 12:10 a. m. September 1). Berlin, August 31, 1939.
• No. 103 : Sir N. Henderson to Viscount Halifax (Received in the Early Hours of September 1, 1939). Berlin, September 1, 1939.
• No. 104 : Explanatory Note upon the actual Course of Events.
• No. 105 : Speech by the Prime Minister in the House of Commons on September 1, 1939.
• No. 106 : Speech by Herr Hitler to the Reichstag on September 1, 1939.
• No. 107 : Herr Hitler's Proclamation to the German Army on September 1, 1939.
• No. 108 : Proclamation by Herr Forster and Exchange of Telegrams between Herr Forster and Herr Hitler, September 1, 1939.
• No. 109 : Viscount Halifax to Sir N. Henderson (Berlin). September 1, 1939, 4:45 p. m.
• No. 110 : Viscount Halifax to Sir N. Henderson (Berlin). September 1, 1939, 5:45 p. m.
• No. 111 : Sir N. Henderson to Viscount Halifax (Received 10:30 p. m.). Berlin, September 1, 1939.
• No. 112 : Sir H. Kennard to Viscount Halifax (Received 2 p. m.). Warsaw, September 1, 1939.
• No. 113 : Viscount Halifax to Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw). September 1, 1939.
• No. 114 : Viscount Halifax to Sir N. Henderson (Berlin). September 1, 1939.
• No. 115 : Sir H. Kennard to Viscount Halifax (Received 8 p. m.) Warsaw, September 2, 1939.
• No. 116 : Speech by the Prime Minister in the House of Commons on September 2, 1939.
• No. 117 : Mr. Preston to Viscount Halifax. Kovno, September 2, 1939.
• No. 118 : Viscount Halifax to Sir N. Henderson (Berlin). Foreign Office, September 3, 1939, 5 a. m.
• No. 119 : Memorandum handed to Sir N. Henderson at 11:2O a. m. on September 3, 1939, by Herr von Ribbentrop.
• No. 120 : Speech by the Prime Minister in the House of Commons on September 3, 1939.
• No. 121 : Herr Hitler's Proclamations of September 3, 1939, to the German People and the German Army.

Attempted Mediation by Other States.

Message from the President of the United States of America to His Majesty the King of Italy of August 23, and His Majesty's Reply of August 30, 1939.

• No. 122 : From the President of the United States of America to the King of Italy.
• No. 123 : From the King of Italy to the President of the United States of America.

Messages sent by the President of the United States of America to Herr Hitler and the President of Poland and the reply of the President of Poland

• No. 124 : The following is the text of the message from President Roosevelt to Herr Hitler of August 14, 1939.
• No. 125 : The following is the text of the message from President Roosevelt to the President of Poland of August 24, 1939.
• No. 126 : The Following is the Text of the Reply of August 25, 1939, to President Roosevelt from President Moscicki.
• No. 127 : The Following is the Text of President Roosevelt's Second Appeal to Herr Hitler, Dated August 25, 1939.

Broadcast Appeal by His Majesty the king of the Belgians in the name of the Heads of States of the Oslo Group of Powers on August 23, 1939, and Replies.

• No. 128 : The Appeal.
• No. 129 : Reply of His Majesty's Government. Viscount Halifax t o Sir R. Clive (Brussels).
• No. 130 : Translation of the reply of the French Government of August 26, 1939.
• No. 131 : President Roosevelt's reply of August 25, 1939.
• No. 132 : Translation of the Polish reply of August 25, 1939.
• No. 133 : His Holiness The Pope's reply.

Joint Offer of Mediation by His Majesty the King of the Belgians and Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands and Replies.

• No. 134 : Sir R. Clive to Viscount Halifax (Received 11:30 p. m.).
• No. 135 : Reply of His Majesty's Government. Viscount Halifax to Sir R. Clive (Brussels) and Sir N. Bland (The Hague).
• No. 136 : Reply of the French Government.
• No. 137 : Translation of Communiqué Recording Reply of Italian Government.
• No. 138 : Reply of the Polish Government.

Broadcast Appeal for Peace by His Holiness the Pope, August 24, 1939, and the Reply of His Majesty's Government.

• No. 139 : The Appeal.
• No. 140 : Viscount Halifax to Mr. Osborne (Holy See).

Further Appeal by His Holiness the Pope and action by His Majesty's Government.

• No. 141 : Mr. Osborne to Viscount Halifax (received 3:45 p. m.).
• No. 142 : Viscount Halifax to Sir N. Henderson (Berlin) and Sir H. Kennard (Warsaw).
• No. 143 : Efforts by the Italian Government.
• No. 144 : The Prime Minister's Broadcast Talk to the German People on September 4, 1939.

Used with permission of Her Majesty's Government