760C.61/1075: Telegram
The Ambassador to the Polish Government in Exile (Biddle) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 7—11:30 p.m.]
Polish Series [No.] 30. In reply to M. Stalin’s statement which I understand was carried in the New York Times this morning to effect that (a) the Soviet Government unquestionably desired to see a strong and independent post-war Poland; and (b) in his opinion Polish-Russian post-war relations should be founded upon mutual reserve [respect?] and good neighborly relations, or, in the event the Polish people so desired, upon the basis of a mutual assistance alliance against the Germans, Sikorski has released the following statement:
“Premier Stalin’s words correspond to the opinion he expressed to me during my stay in Moscow in December 1941. Indeed, the Germans have been for ages the common and implacable enemy of both the Poles and the Russians. The Polish nation wants, of course, to continue its friendly relations with Soviet Russia and base them on an alliance directed against Germany. It is however difficult for me not to be restrained even in the face of such a favorable declaration [Page 415] by Premier Stalin, at the very moment when the Polish Ambassador is leaving Russia and the masses of Polish populations in the U.S.S.R. are left without the care and assistance of their Government. Yet despite this and many other facts, the Polish Government is ready to give a positive answer to any Soviet initiative which will coincide with the interests of the Polish Republic, as defined in our common declaration of December 4, 1941, and in my speech of May 4, 1943.”70 (Latter includes expectation of release by Soviet authorities of tens of thousands of members of Polish soldiers’ families, Polish children and orphans and all Poles fit to bear arms, and continuation of welfare and relief work for Polish citizens in Russia.)
Sikorski tells me he was notified at 1:30 this morning by the London Times office of M. Stalin’s statement. He immediately drew up the foregoing reply and after consultation with the British Foreign Office released it in the hope it would reach New York Times office in time also to be included in this morning’s edition.
In commenting to me on Stalin’s statement, Sikorski said his first reaction was that it might seem to offer some hope for reknitting relations but that in fact it threw no new light on Russia’s policy and did not touch on any of the concrete problems that had given rise to the break in relations.
- A translation of Sikorski’s address in commemoration of Poland’s National Day (anniversary of the Constitution of May 3, 1791), broadcast to Poland by the B.B.C. on May 4, 1943, was transmitted to the Department by Ambassador Biddle in despatch Polish Series No. 313, May 8, 1943, not printed.↩