Foreign Relations of the United States, Diplomatic Papers, 1943, The British Commonwealth, Eastern Europe, the Far East, Volume III

760C.61/1079: Telegram

The Ambassador to the Polish Government in Exile (Biddle) to the Secretary of State

London, May 8, 1943—4 p.m.
[Received May 8—1:15 p.m.]

Polish Series [No.] 31. My 30, May 6, 10 p.m. Sikorski informs me British Government yesterday received a letter from Soviet Government indicating willingness for a settlement of the Polish-Russian rupture but emphasizing that this would not be possible unless there were changes in the Polish Government and in the attitude of the Polish press and propaganda.

Sikorski states that in conveying substance of this letter to him the British authorities expressed the hope that he might see his way clear to making a contribution towards mending the break in relations. Sikorski replied that he would consult his associates with that end in view.

Sikorski states further that en route from this conference to his office he was greeted by headlines in the afternoon papers featuring Vice Commissar for Foreign Affairs Vishinski’s charges that the Poles in Russia had engaged in espionage and that the Polish Government had refused to permit the Polish forces in Russia to fight shoulder to shoulder with the Red army.⁷¹ Annoyed that in these times of strict censorship the British press should thus have been permitted to feature such charges, Sikorski immediately addressed a letter to Mr. Eden expressing his regrets on the above score and indicating his surprise as well as regret that, after Stalin had appeared to wish to raise the dispute to a higher plane of discussion, Vishinski should have been allowed to resort to such tactics. It had only served to make an already difficult situation more difficult for him (Sikorski).

Indeed, Sikorski continued, the charges were such that his Government felt that in due justice to itself it was compelled to issue a reply which took the form of a statement by Count Raczyński, Polish Foreign Minister, carried in today’s press stating (1) that the evacuation of the Polish Army from the U.S.S.R. was not intended by the Polish Government but should be attributed to the Soviet Government which had at the time indicated its inability to provide the necessary food and equipment; and (2) that the charges of espionage in favor of Germany were “fantastic”.⁷²

Sikorski states that in drawing up his statement Raczyński had strict instructions to keep it on a dignified plane but not to sacrifice any matters of substance.

[Biddle]

71. Mr. Vishinsky’s statement, made to British and American press representatives in Moscow on May 6, 1943, was published in the New York Times of May 8, 1943, and in the Information Bulletin, issued by the Soviet Embassy in the United States, dated May 11, 1943.
72. Copy of the full text of the statement by the Polish Foreign Minister was transmitted to the Department by the Ambassador to the Polish Government in Exile in his despatch No. 314, May 8, not printed. It was published in the New York Times of May 8, 1943.