760C.61/1015: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Standley) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11 p.m.]
244. My 191, March 22, 9 p.m. The Polish Ambassador gave me yesterday a memorandum dated March 31,85 which he stated had been furnished the Polish Ambassadors in Washington and London to assist them in their consultations with the American and British Governments on the present aspect of Polish-Soviet relations. I assume that the Department is aware of the contents of this memorandum. Romer said that it was his impression that the American and British [Page 364] Governments would issue instructions to their representatives in Moscow to discuss this question86 with the Soviet Government. He added that his instructions were to take no further action at this time but to avoid creating any appearance of a definite break in his relations with the Soviet authorities. I stated that I had received no instructions in regard to the matter and as I had previously informed him I could therefore take no action.
The British Ambassador subsequently called on me for the purpose of discussing possible action in connection with the Polish memorandum a copy of which had also been furnished him. I told him of my conversation with Romer and in answer to a question as to what he proposed to do he stated that he felt that his Government would expect some expression of opinion from him in regard to the question and that he was inclined to act in accordance with Romer’s suggestion that the British and American Governments endeavor to bring their influence to bear on behalf of the Poles especially since he felt that the terms contained in the memorandum were reasonable and that they might well be accepted as the basis for further discussions between the Polish and Soviet Governments. Clark Kerr seemed to think that it might help if I informed my Government that I had similar views.
I consider that the terms of the memorandum should constitute a reasonable basis for further discussions between the Polish and Soviet Governments. I feel that the Poles have gone as far as they possibly can to come to an understanding with the Russians and I realize what a harmful impression the revaluation [revelation] of the true facts concerning the situation of the Poles in the Soviet Union would have upon world opinion and our united effort. I am therefore inclined to recommend that it might be advisable for the American and British Governments to intercede on behalf of Poland. With respect to any possible intercession I feel that care must be taken by us to forestall the British at a later date from shifting to us for our concern alone an extremely irritating problem in Soviet foreign relations. In view of past experiences I am convinced that little can be accomplished unless the question is taken up direct with Stalin.
The Department’s instructions are requested.87
- For summary of this memorandum, see telegram No. 255, April 6, 8 p.m., from the Ambassador in the Soviet Union, p. 369.↩
- The question referred to concerned the process of the Sovietization of Polish citizens and institutions in the Soviet Union.↩
- In telegram No. 197, April 5, the Department instructed the Ambassador to telegraph a paraphrase of the text of the memorandum or a careful summary of its pertinent points.↩