760C.61/1065: Telegram
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Winant) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 3—10:10 a.m.]
3050. Sunday evening58 Strang59 called me to tell me that the Polish Ambassador was leaving Kuibyshev and that the Poles had asked the British to take over their interests which the British refused to do on the ground that they were negotiating. The Poles then, I understand from Strang, asked us to take over their interests which he told me the Poles said we were unwilling to do. Strang suggested to Eden, who was at his country place, that Eden ask the Prime Minister to cable the President suggesting that we reverse our position. Eden had replied to Strang on the telephone by instructing him to ask my advice. I suggested that they cable all the facts to Washington and that Lord Halifax60 take up the matter with you.
The British naturally do not wish the Poles to ask the Swiss in particular or the Swedes or other Allied refugee governments to act for Polish interests in this situation. I told Strang I realized they were confronted with a serious problem but that I felt our strength lay in joint action to bring about a rapprochement between the Russians and the Poles and that I did not feel with the limited information I had, I could recommend to you that we represent the Poles in Kuibyshev and that the British do the negotiating. I recognize, however, that to keep the Poles satisfied we must find a constructive formula to protect their interests in Russia if they are to follow our advice.
Strang told me he would ask Halifax to tell you that I had suggested he take up this problem directly with you.
I understand that Maisky told the Prime Minister that the Russians had no intention of setting up an independent Polish Government in Russia and that the Foreign Office believes Maisky would not have made this statement without being so informed by his Government.