"...MESSAGE FOR THE PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION OF THE
PRESIDENT.
The situation as His Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom
see it is that the absorption of Czechoslovakia has clearly revealed
Germany's intentions.
It marks the first departure from the Nazi
racial theory and there is little reason to suppose that it is
not Germany's intention to extend over other countries in Europe,
notably Rumania and Poland, a control equivalent to that obtained
over Czechoslovakia.
It is of importance to Germany to avoid a war on two fronts
and her recent behavior has stiffened the attitude at any rate
of Poland and created strong apprehension in other countries
in Central and Eastern Europe. It is Germany's purpose gradually
to neutralize these countries, to deprive them of their power
of resistance and to incorporate them in the German economic
system.
When this has been done the way will have been prepared for an
attack on the Western European Powers.

Germany may seek to achieve her aims directly by way of military
attack, or indirectly by undermining the independence of other
countries by economic penetration or national disintegration
or threat of force."
3/29/1939