760C.61/1071: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Standley) to the Secretary of State
Moscow, May 5,
1943—3 p.m.
[Received 9:54 p.m.]
[Received 9:54 p.m.]
405. Parker, New York Times correspondent, has informed me that in reply to two questions on Polish-Soviet relations submitted to [Page 413] the Kremlin on May 4 he has received the following letter from Stalin:
“Dear Mr. Parker: On May 3 I received your two questions concerning Soviet-Polish relations. Here are my answers:
- 1.
- Question: Does the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic desire to see a strong and independent Poland after the defeat of Hitler’s Germany?
- Answer: Unquestionably it does.
- 2.
- Question: On what fundaments is it your opinion that the relation between Poland and the U.S.S.R. should be based after the war.
- Answer: Upon the fundament of solid, good neighborly relations or should the Polish people so desire upon the fundament of an alliance against the German[s] as the chief enemies of the Soviet Union and Poland.
With respect
(Signed) J. Stalin.”
Parker’s full comments on the letter were [telegraphed?] to the New York Times this evening.68
Standley
- The text of Premier Stalin’s letter to Mr. Parker was published in the New York Times of May 6, 1943; Parker’s comments in connection with it appeared in the New York Times of May 7 and May 8.↩