761.6211/69: Telegram
The Chargé in the United Kingdom (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 22—3 p.m.]
1211. My 1209, August 22, 2 p.m. The Foreign Office has still received no official information regarding the reported agreement between Russia and Germany to conclude a non-aggression pact other than the official communiqué issued in Moscow and Berlin. They have telegraphed the British Ambassador at Moscow to make a direct request of the Soviet Government for an official clarification of its own communiqué and of Russian intentions. The military mission is remaining in Moscow pending receipt of this reply.
Colonel Beck sent for an officer of the British Embassy in Warsaw at 1:30 this morning and asked that a message somewhat to the following [Page 305] effect be sent to London: The report of the agreement between Germany and Russia does not greatly disturb him—he has always known that the Russians were double-crossers—and that it will have no effect on Polish policy. In view however of the importance which public opinion throughout the world has seemed to attach to pacts with Soviet Russia, he is apprehensive lest the press play the news up in such a way as to alarm world opinion unduly and strengthen the position of Germany. He expressed the hope that the British Government would give calming guidance to the press in this country.
A reply has been telegraphed to Colonel Beck through the British Ambassador substantially as follows: The attitude being maintained here is one of calm and of reserved judgment until the full implications of the agreement are known. Even if an agreement should finally be signed between Germany and Soviet Russia it will cause no change in British policy nor in Anglo-Polish relations. Colonel Beck was also informed that the British press was being requested to maintain an attitude of calm and reserve.
Responsible officials of the Foreign Office say that the Government is completely reserving judgment until more facts are known and until the nature of the proposed agreement is made clear. An official pointed out that in the non-aggression pacts so far concluded by Soviet Russia there was an escape clause that if one of the two parties to the agreement attacked a third country the other party to the agreement was absolved from the obligations of the pact. They do not think it likely that Germany will be able to conclude an agreement entirely to her own liking with Russia any more easily or quickly than have the French and the British nor one more favorable to German purposes than other countries have been able to get from Russia.
The Soviet Embassy in London is busily disseminating propaganda to the effect that a Russo-German pact is in no way incompatible with a defensive alliance between the Soviet Union and England and France. It is also drawing particular attention to the escape clause of Russian non-aggression agreements referred to in the paragraph above.