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

740.0011 Moscow/91: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Acting Secretary of State

[Extract]

Moscow, October 29, 1943—midnight.
[Received October 31—7:30 p.m.]

1784. Delam⁴⁴ No. 42.⁴⁵ For the President and the Acting Secretary from the Secretary.

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The Conference then turned to the consideration of the question of Poland. Eden stated that it was a matter of great regret to the British Government that no diplomatic relations existed between the Soviet Union and Poland, both members of the United Nations. He said that if there was any contribution which this conference could make for the reestablishment of those relations he was prepared to do what he could. He mentioned that the Combined Chiefs of Staff had recently received a request from the Polish Government to supply arms to the Polish underground movement for the purpose of carrying on sabotage and other activities against the German occupation forces but that no decision had been reached on this request because of the desire of the British Government to consult with the Soviet Government.

Molotov said that on any question of supplying arms to the Poles the most important aspect was whether those arms would fall into reliable hands. He said that from the Soviet point of view the relations with Poland or any Polish Government were very important since Poland was a neighboring state and that therefore it was one which concerned primarily the Soviet and Polish Governments. He stated that the Soviet Government stood definitely for the independence of Poland but it also desired to see a Polish Government which entertained friendly feelings towards the Soviet Government. He added that it was precisely this element which was lacking in the Polish Government in exile. He went on to say there were other nations through no fault of the Soviet Union which did not maintain relations with them but in the case of Poland he felt that it was a matter of direct concern to Poland and the Soviet Union.

I then said that when neighbors fell out without going into the causes of the dispute we nevertheless felt entitled to express the hope that these differences would be composed and the two neighbors would resume friendly relations. Molotov said his Government felt exactly the same in regard to Poland. I then pointed out that in the U.S. we had groups who were very friendly towards Poland and others who were very friendly towards the Soviet Union and that their only desire was to see relations established.

Eden agreed with my observations and said that their position was even more difficult since the British Government had treaties with both Poland and the Soviet Union. He went on to say that the Polish Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister just before his departure from London had expressed the desire to establish friendly relations with the Soviet Union. Molotov said that the Soviet Government had not been informed of this desire and he merely wished to add that the Polish Division on the German front was fighting heroically against the common enemy.

Eden then pointed out that there would be other Polish divisions engaged in our common struggle and that any delay in their participation was due to the British belief that these troops were insufficiently trained and not to any lack of desire on the part of the Polish military leaders.

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Harriman

44. The designation assigned to a series of telegrams to the Department from the American Delegation at the Moscow Conference of Foreign Ministers.
45. This telegram reported the session of the Moscow Conference on October 29. Only the portion of the proceedings concerned with the Polish problem is printed here. For a full account of the proceedings, see vol. i, pp. 662–670. Except for a brief conversation on October 24 between Cordell Hull and Anthony Eden regarding the manner of approach to Molotov in connection with the Polish question (see memorandum by the Ambassador in the Soviet Union, October 24, ibid., p. 622), the record does not indicate that the Polish question was discussed at any other Conference meeting.