760C.61/4–2143
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State
The British Ambassador17 called at his request. He handed me an aide-mémoire (a copy attached)18 relating to the deterioration of Polish-Soviet relations. The Ambassador said that this was only a preliminary reference to the matter and that he expected within a very few days to receive a somewhat more elaborate statement from his Government, at which time he would desire to discuss it with me in its various phases. I was about to commence some discussion of the subject, when he said that he was not ready to go into it at this time. I indicated to him that the President might be prepared within another one or two weeks to make some direct approach, such as the British Prime Minister is considering, and that I would be glad to [Page 385] keep in touch with the Ambassador with respect to the matter. I added that, in my opinion, approaches would have to be made by the British Prime Minister and the President direct, or in effect direct, to Mr. Stalin.