"The question of the treatment of
European problems on a peaceful basis is not a decision which rests
with Germany, but primarily on those who since the crime committed by
the Versailles Diktat have stubbornly and consistently opposed any
peaceful revision Only after a change of spirit on the part of the
responsible Powers can there be any real change in the relationship
between England and Germany."
There followed a number of appeals to Hitler to
refrain from forcing the Polish issue to the point of war. These were
from President Roosevelt on 24 and 25 August; from his Holiness the
Pope on 24 and 31 August; and from M. Daladier, the Prime Minister of
France, on 26 August.
All these appeals fell on deaf ears. On 25 August, Great Britain
signed a pact of mutual assistance with Poland, which reinforced the
undertaking she had given to Poland earlier in the year This, coupled
with the news of Mussolini's unwillingness to enter the war on
Germany's side made Hitler hesitate for a moment. The invasion of
Poland, which was timed to start on 26 August, was postponed until a
further attempt had been made to persuade Great Britain not to
intervene. Hitler offered to enter into a comprehensive agreement
with Great Britain, once the Polish question had been settled. In
reply to this, Great Britain made a counter-suggestion for the
settlement of the Polish dispute by negotiation. On 29 August Hitler
informed the British Ambassador that the German Government, though
skeptical as to the result, Would be prepared to enter into direct
negotiations with a Polish emissary, provided he arrived in Berlin
with plenipotentiary powers by midnight for the following day, 30
August. The Polish Government were informed of this but with the
example of Shuschnigg and Hacha before them, they decided not to send
such an emissary. At midnight on 30 August the Defendant Von
Ribbentrop read to the British Ambassador at top speed a document
containing the first precise formulation of the German demands
against Poland. He refused, however, to give the Ambassador a copy of
this, and stated that in any case it was too late now, since no
Polish plenipotentiary had arrived.
In the opinion of the Tribunal, the manner in which these
negotiations were conducted by Hitler and Von Ribbentrop showed that
they were not entered into in good faith or with any desire to
maintain peace, but solely in the attempt to prevent Great Britain
and France from honoring their obligations to Poland.
Parallel with these negotiations were the unsuccessful attempts
made by Göring to effect the isolation of Poland by persuading
Great Britain not to stand by her pledged word, through the services
of one Birger Dahlerus, a Swede. Dahlerus. who was called as a
witness by Göring, had a considerable knowledge of England and
things