138
Department of State Bulletin, vol. I, p. 158
President
Roosevelt to the President of the Polish Republic (Moscicki)
[ Telegram ]
AUGUST 24, 1939.
The manifest gravity of the existing crisis
imposes an urgent obligation upon all to examine every possible means which
might' prevent the outbreak of general war.
With this in mind, I feel justified in
suggesting that certain possible avenues of solution be considered.
The controversy between the Government of
Poland and the Government of the German Reich might be made the subject of
direct discussion between the two governments.
Should this prove impossible or not feasible,
a second avenue might be that of submission of the issues to arbitration.
A third method might be conciliation through
a disinterested third party, in which case it would seem appropriate that the
parties avail themselves of the services of one of the traditionally neutral
states, or a disinterested Republic of the Western Hemisphere wholly removed
from the area and issues of the present crisis. Should you determine to attempt
solution by any of these methods, you are assured of the earnest and complete
sympathy of the United
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States and of its people. During the exploration of these avenues, I
appeal to you, as I have likewise appealed to the Government of the German
Reich, to agree to refrain from any positive act of hostility.
Both Poland and Germany being sovereign
governments, it is understood, of course, that upon resort to any one of the
alternatives I suggest, each nation will agree to accord complete respect to
the independence and territorial integrity of the other.
It is, I think, well known to you that speaking
on behalf of the United States I have exerted and will continue to exert every
influence in behalf of peace. The rank and file of the population of every
nation, large and small, want peace. They do not seek military conquests. They
recognize that disputes, claims, and counter claims will always arise from time
to time between nations, but that all such controversies without exception can
be solved by peaceful procedure if the will on both sides exists so to do.
I have addressed a communication in similar
sense to the Chancellor of the German Reich.
FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT