6
Dec. 45
I
think it is unnecessary to read any more of that
letter. As I have already indicated to the
Tribunal, the answer to that was the order to
his armed forces to invade Poland on the
following morning.
That document is
Exhibit TC-72, Number 124, which becomes GB-59.
I put in evidence also the next
document, TC-72, Number 126, GB-60, which is the
reply to that letter from the President of the
Polish Republic, in which he accepts the offer
to settle the differences by any of the peaceful
methods suggested.
On the 25th of
August, no reply having been received from the
German Government, President Roosevelt wrote
again:
"I
have this hour received from the
President of Poland a reply to the
message which I addressed to Your
Excellency and to him last night."
The
text of the Polish reply is then set out.
"Your
Excellency has repeatedly publicly
stated that the aims and objects sought
by the German Reich were just and
reasonable.
"In his reply to
my message the President of Poland has
made it plain that the Polish Government
are willing, upon the basis set forth in
my message, to agree to solve the
controversy which has arisen between the
Republic of Poland and the German Reich
by direct negotiation or the process of
conciliation.
"Countless
human lives can yet be saved, and hope
may still be restored that the nations
of the modem world may even now
construct the foundation for a peaceful
and happier relationship, if you and the
Government of the German Reich will
agree to the pacific means of settlement
accepted by the Government of Poland.
All the world prays that Germany, too,
will accept."
But,
My Lord, Germany would not accept, nor would she
accept the appeals by the Pope which appear in
the next document.
I am sorry-the
President of Poland's reply, TC-72 becomes
Number 127, GB-61.
They would not
agree to those proposals, nor would they pay
heed to the Pope's appeal, which is TC-72,
Number 139 on the same date, the 24th of August,
which becomes GB-62. I do not think it is
necessary to read that. It is an appeal in
similar terms. And there is yet a further appeal
from the Pope on the 31st of August, TC-72,
Number 14, which becomes GB-63. It is 141; 1 beg
your pardon. It is TC-72, Number 141. 1 think
the printing is wrong in the Tribunal's
translation: