760C.61/1038: Telegram
The Ambassador to the Polish Government in Exile (Biddle) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 27—6:16 p.m.]
Polish Series [No.] 24. My 23, April 26.44 I have just seen General Sikorski who tells me that Ambassador Romer reported to him yesterday that at a meeting early yesterday morning Molotov had read to him the substance of the Russian Government’s note notifying the Polish Government of its decision to sever relations. Romer reported further that he refused to accept the note.
Sikorski also states that a further telegram from Romer received today reports that Molotov subsequently sent the note to the Polish Embassy and that after studying it Romer found that contrary to his [Page 399] original impression the Soviet Government uses the term “suspend” relations instead of “sever”. Romer is consequently of the opinion that the door may thus still be open for discussion.
Sikorski states further that on Saturday45 he met with Mr. Eden who informed him that M. Stalin had wired Mr. Churchill that the Soviet Government would break relations with the Polish Government unless General Sikorski would personally publicly deny the German allegations regarding the fate of the Polish officers near Smolensk and withdraw his request of the International Red Cross for investigation. Sikorski says he told Eden he could not comply with those conditions but he was willing for Mr. Churchill to inform M. Stalin that he would “soft pedal” the Polish press regarding the missing officers, that he would not press for the International Red Cross investigation, but that he desired that the Russians should permit the evacuation of certain categories of Poles from Russia. He states he was assured that such message would be sent. The next development was the Soviet Government’s note to Ambassador Romer.
Sikorski tells me the matter has been fully discussed by the Polish Cabinet today and his Government proposes, subject to Mr. Churchill’s approval, to issue a statement which he describes as “firm, dignified and polite”. While the text is still in Polish,46 he tells me it is on the following lines: (a) A résumé of Polish-Russian relations since the Polish-Russian agreement of 1941; (b) notwithstanding difficulties caused the Polish Government by a lack of clear information concerning the fate of the missing Polish officers, the Polish Government wished to maintain good relations with the Soviet Government; (c) the Poles had received information from Polish sources regarding these officers previous to the German allegations; (d) a denial of collaboration with the Nazis in connection either with the allegations or the request for International Red Cross investigation; (e) it is the Polish Government’s policy to defend the interests of Poland and its citizens and to strengthen the solidarity of the common front against the enemy.
Sikorski states he is quite uncertain what is behind the Soviet move. He believes it may be (a) a move calculated to force the present or a reconstructed Polish Government to pay a stiff price for resumption of relations or (b) a long entertained idea of seeking a pretext favorable to Moscow for breaking with the Polish Government. The use of the term “suspend” in the recent note supports the first theory. On the other hand he believes the following considerations support the second theory: (1) The Soviet Government have been building up Drobner, formerly a radical leftist of Krakow, as a possible [Page 400] leader of some sort of national committee, as they threatened during the Polish-Russian negotiations in the summer of 1941; (2) the creation of a Polish-Communist armed force under General Rogoszowski; (3) the publication of the Polish-Communist paper Wolna Polska.49 He feels certain in any case that the Soviet Government’s decision to suspend its relations with the Polish Government at this time was motivated primarily by its belief that it should adopt an offensive rather than a defensive action to divert attention from the alleged massacre of Polish officers and the suggested investigation by the International Red Cross.