706.60C41/10: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador to the Polish Government in Ernie (Biddle), at London
3079. With reference to your 35, May 10, midnight, the Department has been informed by the British Embassy that the British Government has consented to take over temporarily the representation of Polish interests in the Soviet Union and has so informed the Soviet Government.
When the question of the representation of Polish interests in the Soviet Union was brought informally to the attention of the Department by the Polish Embassy and also by Lord Halifax they were informed that this Government was anxious to avoid any action indicating that we regarded the rupture in relations as other than merely temporary and it was our belief that we would be in a better position to act in endeavoring to heal the Polish-Soviet breach if we were not simultaneously representing Polish interests in the Soviet Union.
Since the British have followed up their initial action in taking over the archives by assuming temporarily the representation of Polish interests you may, in your discretion, inform General Sikorski of the reasons for our reluctance to take over Polish interests and explain that we feel that the question has been satisfactorily disposed of for the time being.