811.113 Senate Investigation/18: Telegram
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Bingham) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 10—3:30 p.m.]
513. In the absence of the Ambassador in Belfast, Johnson9 called on the Acting Secretary of State this afternoon by request. Sir Robert Vansittart referred to investigation of the munitions industry now being carried on by a committee of the United States Senate, and to a communication from an unknown source in Warsaw reported to have been admitted before the committee as evidence, in which it was alleged that the King of Great Britain had brought pressure to bear upon the Polish Ambassador in London10 in order to secure a contract for munitions for a British firm. The Acting Secretary said that he would confine his remarks “to terms of strict courtesy” but that he was under instructions to express the astonishment of his Government that such an irresponsible accusation should have been seriously taken and admitted as evidence and apparently given credence by members of so high a body as the United States Senate. He said further that the matter had aroused the deepest indignation and resentment here, and that “it would not soon be forgotten”; that some people might consider such an incident of no importance and as one to be brushed aside, but that such would not be the case in this instance.
The Acting Secretary also expressed resentment that no spontaneous expression of regret had been forthcoming from the United States Government and intimated that such an expression might reasonably have been expected. According to Sir Robert Vansittart, the whole incident showed the most complete ignorance on the part of all concerned of the way things were done in London and of the ordinary working of the British Government. He was particularly indignant that a report from what he termed “an irresponsible armament tout in Warsaw” should have been given any serious consideration whatever.
[Page 430]He requested that the substance of his statement be telegraphed to the Department.