File No. 860c.01/54
The British Embassy to the Department of State
Memorandum
Intelligence received lately by His Majesty’s Government of the progress of events in Poland shows clearly that Germany and her allies have been greatly concerned by the situation there, and His Majesty’s Government are of the opinion that the efforts of the Polish people to obtain their freedom and their independence should be supported in every possible way, and that they should be similarly discouraged from listening to the specious assurances of the enemy of a spurious independence. The feeling that they are being abandoned by the Allies and their prolonged sufferings are calculated otherwise to make them welcome these assurances.
The need for action of the nature indicated would appear to have become all the greater owing to the late changes in the German Government which portend a more rigorous policy in Poland as milder methods must have been unsuccessful.
[Page 760]In consequence His Majesty’s Government propose that all Poles, whether of German, Austrian or Prussian origin, living in the countries of the Allied powers should be granted open recognition as friends and potential allies.
Such a step would crystallise the idea of a separate and free Polish state and people in the minds of the public in the countries of the Allied Governments, and it would be in the nature of a guarantee to the Polish people themselves that their claims to independence were being backed by the Allies.
As a corollary to such action it would be highly desirable to establish a committee to represent the Polish community in each of the Allied countries. Such a body would be valuable, if recognised by the Government, in affording assistance in case of necessity to the individual members of the communities, of whatever origin they might be, in requesting for them the protection of the Government and in giving guarantees for them, as well as in serving as a means of communication with Polish patriots.
His Majesty’s Government are anxious to learn the opinion of the United States Government on this subject.
[Received July 24.]