860C.01/84½

The Representative of the Polish National Committee (Paderewski) to the Secretary of State

Sir: For a long time before the official recognition of the Polish National Committee at Paris, the members of that organization have been carrying out the work of propaganda among the masses of Polish population for the resistance to Germany’s political plans. Their endeavors, involving considerable expenditure of energy and money, have been successful. Outside of two members, who cheerfully offered for that purpose all they had possessed, the expenses of the propaganda were covered partly by contributions from the Polish organizations in the United States, partly by private donations from [Page 72] that part of Russian Poland which has not been invaded by the enemy.

The present position of the Polish National Committee at Paris, while greatly enhanced, both politically and morally, through its recognition as an official organization by the Entente Powers and the United States Government, is nevertheless very precarious by reason of the existing financial conditions. Though not adopting, for obvious political reasons, temporarily at least, the name of a provisional government, the Polish National Committee has assumed all the burden of responsibility of such an institution and accepted many of its charges imposed upon it by the very fact of its recognition as an official organization. The already established agencies and offices in Paris, London, Rome, Lausanne and Petrograd with their numerous staffs require the more funds as the members and agents of the Polish National Committee at Paris, handicapped by comprehensible difficulties of correspondence, by letters and wires, are obliged to travel constantly in order to communicate personally. The resources of individuals are now totally exhausted. The contributions from the Polish organizations are being absorbed by charities, especially by the needs of Polish volunteers going to fight in France. The recent social and political disturbances in Russia have completely wiped out all that remained of Polish fortunes there. The Polish National Committee at Paris has practically no financial means whatever.

In view of this distressing situation, the Polish National Committee at Paris, much to its regret, finds itself compelled to appeal to the United States for aid, and most respectfully begs your Excellency to decide whether the President or the Government of the United States would be inclined to grant, in the form of a loan, to the future State of Poland, the financial help as follows:

1. Sixty thousand dollars as a monthly subvention for the maintenance of agencies and offices already existing in Paris, London, Rome, Lausanne, and Petrograd as well as of those which are to be established in neutral countries, for the duration of the war.

2. One million dollars for the immediate relief of Polish refugees in Russia whose situation, under the present regime, is most critical and the number exceeds sixteen hundred thousand.

3. A subsidy of five hundred thousand dollars for the purpose of bringing over from Russia, five hundred experienced Polish officers of all ranks, already promised by the Russian General Staff, and whose presence among the Polish soldiers would greatly increase the value of that fighting material.

The members of the Polish National Committee at Paris, enjoying confidence and respect of an immense majority of our people, there is no doubt that the future State of Poland would gladly redeem this loan which, however important, is only a trifling matter as compared [Page 73] to the unbounded indebtedness of Poland towards the President, the Government, and the people of the United States.

With profound respect [etc.]

I. J. Paderewski