760C.61/1029: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4:48 p.m.]
2766. We learn at the Foreign Office this afternoon in strict confidence that within the next few days the British intend to approach our Government to suggest a joint or parallel démarche in high quarters at Moscow in the hope of bringing about some improvement in Russo-Polish relations. We understand that the thought of making this suggestion is quite apart from and originated prior to the recent bitter exchange on the question of the fate of the 8,000 Polish officers. The Foreign Office believes that a British and American appeal to Moscow on grounds of the need for unity among the United Nations and the fact that the continuance of the present bitter relations between the Poles and the Russians is only playing the German game may have some effect and might lead to some relaxation of the present Russian attitude toward the Poles within its territory. (Incidentally the Foreign Office feels that the measures taken against such Poles since January are motivated largely by Russian desire to reinforce and give expression to her territorial aspirations with respect to eastern Poland.) It is emphasized that not only are the Polish armed forces in this country affected by a continuance of the present Russian attitude but the Polish troops in the Middle East totalling approximately 100,000 who are now fully equipped and will prove to be a valuable armed force, are becoming increasingly dissatisfied.
There also remains the question of the possible evacuation from Russia, and the Russian attitude with respect thereto is not known, of several hundred thousand Poles, the possibilities of transporting them and their ultimate destination.
As to the German propaganda story of the 8,000 officers the Foreign Office inclines to the view, while not unsympathetic to Sikorski’s position and the fact that the Poles had never been able to learn the whereabouts of the officers in question, that a mistake was made in swallowing the German bait and particularly the appeal to the International Red Cross to investigate. It seems strange, says the Foreign Office, whatever the fate of the officers in question, that the Germans [Page 386] who had long been in Smolensk should suddenly have just now discovered the 8,000 graves and be prepared with the identity cards of the alleged victims all in order. Unfortunate as the incident is in stimulating anti-Russian feeling among the Poles and anti-Polish feeling at Moscow as a result of the Polish communiqué, the Foreign Office takes the view that it is now too late to do anything to remedy this particular incident. Any Anglo-American move at Moscow should, in its opinion, concentrate on the need to bring about some early improvement.