Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1941, General, The Soviet Union, Volume I

860C.00/882.: Telegram

The Ambassador to the Polish Government in Exile (Biddle) to the Secretary of State

London, August 2, 1941—3 p.m.
[Received August 2—10:50 a.m.]

Polish Series [No.] 30. Supplementing my cable Polish Series No. 29, July 30, 11 p.m.⁹⁵

1. Polish Minister of Interior Seyda⁹⁶ and General Sosnkowsky⁹⁷ tendered their resignations from Polish Cabinet July 26, in protest to the signing of the Polish-Soviet agreement. Foreign Minister Zaleski resigned on the same day. While he said resignation was due to lack of national unity caused by resignation of aforementioned Cabinet Ministers, I am aware he was definitely opposed to signing the agreement in its final form. These resignations have thus far not been accepted.

2. While efforts are afoot to persuade Seyda and Sosnkowsky to withdraw their resignations, I understand Zaleski’s will be accepted due largely to long standing differences of opinion on general policy between him and General Sikorski and to his vigorous opposition to the views of General Sikorski who took the lead throughout the recent negotiations.

3. General Sikorski imparts he ascertained that the attitude of the opposition was stiffened measurably by cables from Ciechanowski, wherein he indicated in effect that official circles in Washington looked with disfavor upon the Polish Government’s signing the agreement as drafted.⁹⁸ Having subsequently been led to understand from British sources that Ciechanowski’s impressions were incorrect, Sikorski has requested an immediate explanation from him.

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Biddle

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95. Not printed.
96. Marjan Seyda was Minister of Justice.
97. Deputy Prime Minister.
98. In a memorandum of August 5, 1941, Ray Atherton, Acting Chief of the Division of European Affairs, reminded Under Secretary of State Welles that “it has been repeated to the Polish Ambassador on several occasions during visits by him to the European Division that the United States Government continued to adhere to its policy of refusing to recognize the acquisition of territory obtained by aggression.” (860C.00/882)