2 made a statement in the House of mons, in the course of which he id that no answer had been received to the message sent to the German Government on September 1 requesting the cessation of German aggression and the withdrawal of German troops from Poland. The Prime Minister also informed the House of proposals put forward by the Italian Government for a cessaof hostilities, but made it clear t His Majesty's Government could take part in any conference un-German aggression ceased and German troops were withdrawn from Poland. At 5 am. on September 3 Sir N. Henderson was instructed to ask for an interview at 9 am. with Herr yon Ribbentrop and to inform him that, although His Majesty's Government had warned the German results which were received from the German Government not later than 11 am. a state of war would exist between the United Kingdom and Germany.
At 11.20 am. on September 3 the German Government replied with a statement of their case, concluding with the suggestion that His Majesty's Government desired the destruction of the German people, and with the words "we shall answer any aggressive action on the part of England with the same weapons and in the same form." Shortly afterwards the Prime Minister announced in the House of Commons that Great Britain was at war with Germany.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.