Video: 'BBC News 39 - Saturday 2 September 1939 - (Part 6 of 14)'

(Saturday, September 2, 1939, 7:44 p.m. British Summer Time; during the Invasion of Poland, part of World War II) — One day after Nazi Germany invaded Poland, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain informed the House of Commons tonight that no reply had yet been received from Germany regarding last night’s ultimatum which declared that unless the British government received “satisfactory assurances” that Germany was prepared to withdraw from Polish territory, “His Majesty’s Government will without hesitation fulfill their obligation to Poland.”

Regarding the Italian peace proposal he said he appreciated the effort, but “His Majesty’s Government, for their part, would find it impossible to take part in a conference while Poland is being subjected to invasion, her towns are under bombardment and Danzig is being made the subject of a unilateral settlement by force. His Majesty’s Government will, as stated yesterday, be bound to take action unless the German forces are withdrawn from Polish territory.”