The New York Times Book of World War II, 1939-1945

by The New York Times

  Then he made a final check-up on the machinery already set up for preserving American neutrality, as well as for swinging military, naval and industrial forces into action in event of any unexpected emergency.

  The President’s promise to do all in his power to keep the nation at peace was given as he gravely faced his regular Friday morning press conference. There was little he could say at this critical period in the world’s history, he remarked, except to appeal to the newspapermen present for their full cooperation in adhering as closely as possible to the facts, since this was best not only for this nation but for civilization as a whole.

  In this regard, the President set an example for his auditors. He said what he had to say without attempting to minimize or exaggerate the gravity of the European situation. He appeared to be neither exuberant nor depressed by the turn of events that kept him from his bed for all but a few hours last night. Occasionally he was humorous, but throughout his manner was calm.

  WOULD “ALLAY ANXIETY”

  Later in the day the President let it be known that he would address the nation over the three major broadcasting networks on Sunday night from 10 to 10:15 o’clock, Eastern daylight time, in an effort “to allay anxiety and relieve suspense.” Stephen T. Early, his secretary, who hurried back to Washington from a brief vacation today, said Mr. Roosevelt would speak on international affairs in a manner that would “clearly state our position” and would be of international interest.

  The President began his memorable press conference with the explanation that there was little if anything he could say on such anticipated questions as when he would call a special session of Congress and issue a neutrality proclamation. These things, he explained, would have to await developments “over there” during the day, and possibly tomorrow, which would have a direct bearing on any American action.

  But if any one had any questions that he was able to answer, Mr. Roosevelt said, he would answer gladly. A reporter observed that the question uppermost in everyone’s mind just now was: “Can we keep out of it?” The President cast his eyes downward for a moment as he pondered the request for comment. Then he replied:

  “Only this—that I not only sincerely hope so, but I believe we can, and that every effort will be made by the Administration to so do.”

  The President consented readily when permission was asked to quote him directly on his statement.

  SEPTEMBER 2, 1939

  FRANCE MOBILIZES; 8,000,000 ON CALL

  Martial Law Declared Over Entire Country—Daladier Meets Deputies Today

  By P. J. PHILIP

  Wireless to The New York Times.

  PARIS, Sept. 2 (Passed by Censor)—France’s reply to Germany’s violation of Poland was to decree general mobilization for this morning, establish martial law throughout the country and convoke Parliament for 3 P.M. today so as legally to carry out whatever must be done.

  These decrees were approved at a Cabinet council held during yesterday morning without midnight secrecy or undue haste.

  ULTIMATUM ORDERED

  In the evening the government gave instructions to Ambassador Robert Coulondre in Berlin to hand to the Wilhelm-strasse an ultimatum in terms analogous to and in the same sense as the British note which, Prime Minister Chamberlain announced during the afternoon, had been handed in by the British Ambassador.

  Only cessation of hostilities in Poland at this time could enable an international conference such as has been suggested to be set up, and hope of such a happening is frail.

  There was much speculation tonight as to whether Premier Daladier will alter and enlarge his Cabinet, but the Premier has taken no one into his confidence. It is not possible now to predict that any “Sacred Union” Cabinet will be formed as was done in 1914.

  RELIED UPON BY POLES

  From the Polish Ambassador, Julius Lukasiewicz, Foreign Minister Georges Bonnet learned officially that fire had been opened by German troops along the Polish frontier at 5:45 o’clock yesterday morning, that airplanes had attacked several centers and that Poland, feeling her independence endangered, placed her reliance on France to fulfill her engagements.

  This information and request confirmed news that had been pouring out from the German radio since before 8 A.M. when Albert Forster, Danzig’s chief of state, handed over the Free City to Germany, an event followed by the Reichstag meeting and Chancellor Hitler’s speech.

  FORMALITIES OBSERVED

  Even as early as that there was no doubt about the French retort, but formalities must be satisfied in a democratic country, which is not ruled by any personal pronoun. So diplomatic activity continued all during the day and Parliament must have its say simultaneously with the preparations being made by the military command.

  General Marie Gustave Gamelin, supreme commander of French defense forces, was indeed the first at work yesterday morning, calling on Premier Daladier at 8:45. That was only the first of many meetings during the day. At the Ministry of Marine the Minister, Cesar Campinchi, was in conference with Vice Admiral Jean Darlan, commander of the navy.

  It will not be until today, when certain diplomatic situations will have been cleared up and the Chamber of Deputies given its approval that the irrevocable choice between peace and war will be taken.

  Meanwhile there is much insistence on what is described as the duplicity of Herr Hitler’s presentation of his case. As on so many previous occasions both in internal and external relations, it is claimed he misrepresented facts and disregarded what did not suit his plans.

  POINTS NEVER DELIVERED

  In Thursday’s broadcast of his sixteen points, which it is asserted he proposed for a settlement with Poland, it was stated that no answer had been received. Here it is said that unless they were contained in a document which Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop read hurriedly to British Ambassador Sir Nevile Henderson and of which he did not hand over a copy, they were never delivered.

  Nevertheless on Wednesday evening the French Ambassador to Poland, Leon Noel, at the request of his government, asked Foreign Minister Josef Beck if he would make another effort at a direct settlement. M. Beck replied that he would and ordered his Ambassador in Berlin, Josef Lipski, to ask for an interview with Herr von Ribbentrop.

  When M. Lipski did so he was asked whether he made this request as a plenipotentiary or as Ambassador, and at 7 o’clock Thursday evening he was received by Herr von Ribbentrop. It was only an hour and a half later that the German radio announced the German terms, which it declared had been rejected before they had been discussed and which were, in so far as the Polish Corridor was concerned, much more moderate than anything that had been proposed previously.

  Herr Hitler’s evident if not avowed demand, it is said, was that M. Beck should come hat in hand even more humbly than Chancellor Kurt Schuschnigg of Austria and Premier Milan Hodza of Czecho-Slovakia, and should be treated in an even more cavalier manner. Not having had his own way, Herr Hitler opened fire.

  The intense diplomatic activity of the last few days here continued at increased pressure as Ambassadors and Ministers sought the latest information for their governments. The United States Ambassador, William C. Bullitt, was among the most active. He made several visits to the Foreign Office, on the second of which, at 1 o’clock, he transmitted President Roosevelt’s strongly worded appeal to Germany and Poland.

  Today’s meeting of the Chamber of Deputies and Senate will be “for discussion of an important communication from the government.” It is the second time within living memory that a decision will have to be taken by the elected representatives of France whether or not to go to war with Germany.

  Today there will be the same union as there was in 1914. All party meetings which have been held have expressed approval of every step the government has taken.

  Hope that peace could be and the belief that it might be arranged have died hard in many hearts. There are still some that think it can, in a sense, be limited to one front only, but there is not a do
ubt in any one’s mind that in dealing with Hitlerian Germany there is now no alternative for France than to accept the challenge which has been thrown down in Poland.

  SEPTEMBER 2, 1939

  Nazi Efforts Centered on Preventing Spread of Conflict to the Rest of Europe

  HITLER EXPECTED TO REJECT TERMS

  Acceptance of Ultimatum of Britain and France Said to Be Out of the Question

  ‘LITTLE WAR’ IS NAZI AIM

  Wireless to The New York Times.

  BERLIN, Saturday, Sept. 2—That Chancellor Hitler will accept the Anglo-French ultimatum is regarded here early this morning as out of the question.

  In semi-official quarters it is regarded as out of the question because first, all efforts at peaceful solution have failed, even Prime Minister Chamberlain’s own mediation effort, and, second, it is not Herr Hitler’s way to leave “appeals” from Germans in Poland unheeded.

  Thus Europe is plunged into a new if undeclared war which, for the moment, is still between Germany and Poland but which has already paralyzed the whole Continent, where more than 10,000,000 men are under arms, and which is rapidly expanding into a test of strength between resurgent Germany and the Western powers.

  Arrows indicate the advances of the Reich’s forces in the north and south of Poland. The Germans hoped to crush Polish resistance before Western powers could interfere.

  LOCAL WAR HELD AIM

  At the moment, therefore, all German diplomatic efforts are now concentrated in localizing the conflict to keep it down to a “little war” and preventing its expansion into a big war. For that purpose, while emphasizing Herr Hitler’s determination as expressed in his Reichstag speech to “win or die” in his struggle to revise the Versailles settlement in the East, all diplomatic quarters also stress the thesis that Germany does not want anything from the Western powers, least of all war with them.

  With that end in view neither mobilization nor war has been declared so far and diplomatic contacts have continued in London throughout the day.

  Even the “theoretical” possibilities of further negotiations are held open, especially since Josef Lipski, the Polish envoy, is still in town, though assurances that Herr Hitler’s sixteen points, announced Thursday, are still valid are declared to be impossible in view of the Polish rejection of them and military developments.

  There is every indication that the possibility of localizing the conflict and keeping the western powers out is seriously entertained in German quarters, which hope to crush Poland’s military resistance before the western powers intervene with force. And the press published yesterday many appeals to western statesmen to understand the meaning of the historic hour and to make right decisions that will create a better and more just peace.

  But these hopes dimmed to the vanishing point when late yesterday afternoon Mr. Chamberlain’s speech in the House of Commons became known with its virtual ultimatum to Germany to evacuate Poland or face the alternative of force being met with force in conformity with the doctrine proclaimed by Herr Hitler yesterday morning. Almost simultaneously with that speech Sir Nevile Henderson and Robert Coulondre, the British and French Ambassadors, called on Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop separately and delivered similar notes, which are believed to be in the same terms as Mr. Chamberlain’s speech.

  PREPARED FOR EVENTUALITIES

  Semi-official quarters and the press declared Germany was prepared for all eventualities and trusted in Herr Hitler and the Germany Army implicitly. But it goes without saying that the entry of the Western powers would completely change the nature of the present conflict and put a strain on Germany’s military and economic capacity, a test of which has yet to be made.

  MANY RUSH TO SHELTER

  The grim reality of the war was brought home to Germans shortly before 7 o’clock last night when sirens sent thousands scurrying to cover. In a few minutes the streets were completely deserted. There was no way for German residents or any one else to determine whether this was merely a trial or an attack. Natural anxiety was evident, but the regulations apparently were carried out to the letter. Less than half an hour later the lengthy wail of the siren announced that the danger had passed.

  Berlin and other German cities will be blacked out indefinitely, by official order. Residents shout warnings to forgetful fellow-citizens who have neglected to cover their windows. A courteous German last night rang the bell of the American Church to inform the pastor that the interior rectory light was visible without suggesting that he cover the window or extinguish the light.

  The Reich Civilian Air-Raid Defense Corps was fully mobilized for emergency service. The elevated trains used lights so dim that it was barely possible to discern the features of fellow-passengers. All street lights were extinguished. Fire apparatus, moreover, was stationed at key points.

  CAFES DO BIG BUSINESS

  Cafes did a rousing business all yesterday. The crowds were quiet and last night small groups were seen standing in the darkened streets eagerly conversing in hushed voices. Yesterday was the first “fish day” which, in the future, will be every Tuesday and Friday. Menus in even the larger hotels frequented by government, party and military leaders were reduced and the rationing system for most essentials is now in full force.

  Vehicle owners fortunate enough to have received fuel for their cars were informed that the cars could be used only in life-or-death cases. Pleasure rides are forbidden. Taxis can be obtained only when necessity obviates other means of transportation.

  Work clothes were removed from the restricted list and are now purchasable without ration cards.

  SEPTEMBER 3, 1939

  NEUTRALITY VOTED BY DAIL AT DUBLIN

  De Valera Gives Partition as Reason but Hears Strong Opposition In Session

  By HUGH SMITH

  Special Cable to The New York Times.

  DUBLIN, Sept. 2—The Dail Eire-ann tonight approved Prime Minister Eamon de Valera’s policy of neutrality in the event of a European war and gave his government the sweeping wartime powers that have been asked.

  In his speech to the Dail, Mr. de Valera hinted that it might be necessary to reshuffle his Cabinet and create a special Ministry to control supplies. Arrangements were also being made tonight to establish a press censorship forthwith. For a State that proposes to remain neutral the Administration is abrogating ordinary constitutional rights to a degree equal to that of a country engaged in actual warfare.

  Eamon De Valera

  Despite Ireland’s remoteness from Central Europe, Dublin, Cork and other large centers here were blacked out tonight, while armed military guards were placed on railways and public buildings.

  Even in the face of these official precautions and the calling up of army reserves, the people here refuse to believe that there is any immediate danger that Ireland will come within the war zone. In fact, ships from England today were again heavily laden with women and children coming to find sanctuary here.

  FOOD SUPPLY A PARADOX

  Just how far Ireland can maintain her neutrality and send food supplies to Britain is a question that is exercising many minds here. If hostilities with Germany develop on a large scale it is recognized that the export of farm produce from Ireland to Britain and the importation of supplies for Ireland industries from England could be carried on only under the protection of the British fleet. Mr. de Valera himself admitted in the Dail that the preservation of neutrality while having close trade relations with Britain would present many difficult and delicate problems.

  OPPOSITION IS EXPRESSED

  In the Senate tonight Mr. de Valera heard opposition to his neutrality policy. Senator Sir John Keane, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ireland, declared that the Conservative and property-owning classes were much dissatisfied with the attitude of neutrality. If Ireland, he said, came out openly with the other Dominions of the British Commonwealth on the side of the democracies that act would do much to unite the country and break down the barriers dividing it.

  Al
so opposing neutrality was Senator Frank MacDermott, who said:

  “There is not a single country in the world whose spiritual and material interests are so immediately affected by this war as our own. If Britain, France and Poland are defeated everything the Irish race has stood for spiritually will go down and this country will be reduced to a state of rags and beggary that it has not known for centuries.”

  PARTITION IS EMPHASIZED

  In his speech Mr. de Valera stressed that the partition of Ireland was a stumbling block to any whole-hearted cooperation with Britain.

  “I know,” he said, “that there are strong sympathies in this country with regard to the present issue, but I do not think that any one would suggest that the official policy of this State should be other than neutrality.”

  So many American citizens have been left here awaiting ships home that United States Consul William Small at Cork has found it necessary to issue a public appeal asking for lodgings for them. This announcement suggests that Americans returning home from Europe may find Ireland a suitable place to await transport across the Atlantic.

  SEPTEMBER 3, 1939

  CAN THE UNITED STATES KEEP OUT OF THE WAR?

  By HAROLD B. HINTON

  WASHINGTON, Sept. 2—The questioner who asked President Roosevelt at his press conference yesterday whether the United States can stay out of the European war was demanding of the Chief Executive the powers of a soothsayer. The President made the oracular response—which is the only one possible—that he hoped and believed the country could stay clear and that his Administration would do all that lay in its power to keep it clear.