763.72119/673½a
The Secretary of State to President Wilson
My Dear Mr. President: I have been turning over in my mind in what way we can best utilize the intense longing of the Poles for the restoration of Poland as an independent nation.28
It seems to be recognized by all the Allies that Polish independence should be one of the results of the war and that the Poles should as far as possible be segregated into military units so that they would feel their nationality and be inspired to fight for the freedom of their country.
It is my understanding that France, has already taken steps to form a skeleton on which to build up a Polish army to fight on the Western front; and that something of a like nature could be organized on the eastern front. This latter plan will require discreet handling because the Russians may be at first loath to release troops already incorporated in the Russian armies, but I think that it can be done by starting with a movement to call Poles not already in military service to join a Polish army for independence. When this step is taken I believe the separation of the Poles in the Russian armies will follow as a matter of course.
[Page 36]To gain the full benefit of the loyalty of the Poles to their country it seems to me that, in the first place, this government and those of the Allies should announce in separate but identic declarations that they recognize the legitimate nature of Polish desire for self-government and that they purpose to devote their energies to free Poland and restore the nation to full sovereignty, in contradistinction to a nation under the protection or control of any neighboring power.
In the second place, the matter of financing the Polish military establishment is most important. Of course it will have to be done by this country. My suggestion is that a Polish Provisional Government [be] set up in this country, that it be recognized by this Government and the Allied Governments, and that it send diplomatic representatives to all the powers with which it is associated in the war. After formal recognition of this Government of an independent Poland we could legally loan the Government for military purposes the necessary funds secured by Polish bonds underwritten by this country and the Allies.
I have carefully considered the place where the Provisional Government should be located and have come to the conclusion that to avoid all suspicion as to the genuine purpose of this step looking to the rebirth of Poland this country is the only place. Furthermore, in view of the fact that this country will have to supply the money for this enterprise, I believe that the new Government should be where we can keep a watchful eye on the expenditures.
If this plan or one along the same lines meets with your approval, shall I sound the diplomatic representatives of the Allies on the subject?
Faithfully yours,
- For correspondence previously printed concerning this subject, see Foreign Relations, 1917, supp. 2, vol. i, pp. 759 ff., and Ibid., 1918, supp. 1, vol. i, pp. 871 ff.↩