The French Ambassador had presented at noon a similar ultimatum to the German Government to expire at 5 pin. For a few hours ofer 11, am, the telephonic lines of His Majesty's Embassy at Berlin continued to function, but at about 4 pin. all telephonic lines were cut off and both the Staff at the Adlon Hotel and the Embassy itself was isolated from all exernal contact, Members of my staff, however, had visited the Protocol at 11 am. with a view to arranging for our departure. They were treated with every civility and consideration and were informed that a special train would be placed at our disposal the following morning.
Our only contact thereafter with the outside world was through the American Embassy. Its aid and help was invaluable. No trouble was too great for the Charge d'Affaires, Mr. Alexander Kirk, and the members of his staff. They did everything that was possible to smooth over the difficulties of those last 24 hours, and our pleasantest recollection of them is our appreciation of the great sympathy and willing assistance which we received from the American Embassy.
The French Embassy left Berlin at 9 am. the following morning, Monday, September 4. The British Embassy followed in a special train. leaving the Charlottenberg station at 11.20 a.m. The whole party consisted of 20 men, 7 women and 2 dogs. A small crowd collected round the Embassy before our departure, but unhostility. Mr. Kirk rendered me one more last service by driving me to the station in his own car. The streets of Berlin were practically deserted and there was nothing to indicate the beginning of a war which is to be the sole arbiter in international affairs; whether international instruments solemnly and freely entered into are to be modified, not by negotiation, but by mere unilateral repudiation; whether there is to be any faith in future in written contracts; whether the fore of a great nation and the peace of the world is to rest in the future in the hands of one man; whether small nauons are to have any rights against the pretensions of States more powerful than inemselves: in a word, whether
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.