760C.61/2129
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Chief of the Division of European Affairs (Matthews)
The Polish Ambassador called this afternoon at his request, and left with me, under instructions from his government, he said, the attached memorandum which he requested be brought to the personal attention of the Secretary. The memorandum records suspicions on the part of the Polish government with regard to charges from Soviet and Communist sources that the Polish underground organizations are, under instructions from the Polish government, preparing a massacre of Communists in Poland. These charges, the Ambassador said, foreshadow in the mind of the Polish government attacks against the Polish underground on the entry of Soviet forces into Poland unless some prior understanding is reached between the Polish government and the Soviet government. The Ambassador offered no evidence to substantiate his government’s suspicions, but insisted that no such [Page 490] instructions had been given the Polish underground. He referred in this connection, to the summary of instructions actually given transmitted to the Department through Ambassador Biddle.61
The Ambassador next remarked that his government fully appreciated the friendly efforts on the part of our Government to bring about resumption of diplomatic relations between the U.S.S.R. and Poland. He felt that, in view of the urgency of the question as the Soviet army approaches the Polish frontier, some additional step might be taken. This step might assume the form, he said, of a communication to the Soviet government to the effect that this Government regards the present Polish government as constitutional and legitimate, and has no intention of recognizing any puppet regime of whatever character might be set up. I made no comment other than to ask if he really thought such a gesture would assist in bringing about an improvement in relations between Poland and the U.S.S.R., and he admitted scepticism on this point.
The Ambassador then said there was a minor matter on which he thought we might help. The British government, he said, has agreed to give guidance to the British press and British broadcasters in the sense that wherever reference to Polish frontiers is necessary they be referred to as “Poland’s 1939 frontiers” rather than “the former frontiers” of Poland. He said that he hoped we might give some similar background guidance to our press, and that such terminology seemed in full agreement with the American position that frontiers are not to be settled until after the termination of hostilities. I said that I would be very glad to look into the matter. He then made the significant remark that while he “had no illusions that Poland would ever be reconstituted with its 1939 frontiers” he did feel that for the record she was entitled not to consider the question as one already disposed of.
The Ambassador then took up two minor questions of personnel about which I suggested he send the Department a written communication.
He seemed in a much calmer frame of mind than the last time I saw him shortly after the Moscow Conference.