Office of the Historian

740.00116 European War 1939/878: Telegram

The Minister in Switzerland (Harrison) to the Secretary of State

Bern, April 19, 1943—7 p.m.
[Received 11:40 p.m.]

2447. An examination of the unusually extensive publicity now being given in the press and over the radio by the German propaganda machine to the reported discovery in occupied Russia of the bodies of numerous Polish officers (my telegram No. 2357 of April 15) reveals the following as the possible objectives thereof:

1.
The worsening of the relations between the Polish Government at London and the Soviet authorities by the introduction of this further contention between them.
2.
The arousing of feelings among the Poles and the Ukrainians in the general government (of Poland) where a most violent anti-Soviet campaign on the basis of the alleged discovery is in progress with a view to ensuring quiet and even some cooperation in these important rear areas at the approach of the season for the spring offensive.
3.
The giving of a new impetus to the anti-Soviet campaign in Allied-occupied and neutral countries of Europe by the projection of this mass atrocity allegation with special emphasis in residual Czechoslovakia and the other countries of southeastern Europe.
4.
The discrediting among European peoples of American and British support of the Soviet Union in so far as possible in connection with the German propaganda thesis that the logical outcome [of] Anglo-American policy is the surrender of the European Continent to Soviet control.
5.
Appeal to circles in the United States and Great Britain thought to be anti-Soviet to such a degree as to be likely to oppose present and postwar cooperation between their Governments and the Soviet Union.
6.
It is apparent that the German authorities have been aware for some months of the presence of the bodies of the Polish officers near Smolensk and that they have built up a detailed propaganda program thereon. Consequently the timing of the campaign for release at this particular moment would apparently indicate that it is intended primarily to lessen if possible western support of the Soviet Union at this juncture in the war.

Harrison