793.94119/571: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Bullitt) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 26—8:25 a.m.]
1601. For the President and the Secretary. The Polish Ambassador in Paris said to me last night that the relations between the Japanese and Polish Governments were much closer and more cordial than generally realized. He knew positively that the Japanese Government at the present moment would welcome an effort of the American Government to settle the disputes between Japan, Great Britain and France and bring the war in China to an end on a reasonable basis.
The Polish Ambassador added that he felt so confident that an immediate improvement in the situation in the Far East could be brought about that he believed the Government of the United States would be fully justified in moving the American Fleet immediately from the Pacific to the Atlantic. He then suggested that I should get in touch with the Japanese Embassy in Paris.
[Page 211]I naturally replied that I would not do any such thing and expressed the opinion that the American Fleet would remain in the Pacific for some time to come.
I have been aware for some time of the exceedingly close relationship between the Japanese and Polish Governments which is based on fear of the Soviet Union and an absence of conflicting interests between Japan and Poland. As you know the Polish Ambassador in Paris was my colleague in Moscow. I know him intimately and I am certain that he would never have spoken to me as he did last night if he had not received instructions from his Government to do so.
While I remain entirely skeptical with regard to the willingness of Japan to accept a peace which will insure the independence and free development of China, I consider it within the realm of possibility that the Japanese Government may have used this round-about method to indicate to the Government of the United States that it would be glad now to enter into serious discussions for the termination of war between Japan and China.