Office of the Historian

760C.61/987: Telegram

The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Standley)

Washington, September 14, 1942—7 p.m.

449. Your 767, September 10, 9 [10] p.m. Because of the seriousness of the yet unsolved problems in Polish-Soviet relations we believe that Mr. Willkie should make representations along the lines suggested in Section 5 of your telegram under reference70 pointing out particularly that it is in the common interest of the United Nations including this country that there should be the maximum cooperation and hence the least possible cause for friction between the diverse nations fighting against the Axis powers.

We feel, however, that Mr. Willkie should not attempt to argue the case the details of which you have so ably presented on various occasions as reported in your several telegrams on this subject.71

Mr. Willkie may also state that Ambassador Biddle has likewise been instructed to discuss the matter in a similar vein with General Sikorski.

Hull
  1. The last three paragraphs of the telegram.↩
  2. Ambassador Standley reported in telegram No. 380, September 26, that Mr. Willkie told him that during a conversation with Stalin on the evening of September 23, 1942, Soviet-Polish problems were discussed “along the lines indicated by the Department” and Stalin had replied that “he would be entirely willing to discuss the Polish question with Polish officials to the end that existing difficulties be straightened out.” (032 Willkie, Wendell L./88)↩