Office of the Historian

J.C.S. Files: Telegram

The British Chiefs of Staff to the Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force (Eisenhower)1

secret
urgent
London, 10 September 1944.

OZ 5157. Following for General Eisenhower from Chiefs of Staff. Reference AGWar telegram W 80785 of 15th August .2

British Ambassador to Moscow reports Russians state that if we remain firmly convinced that dropping of supplies to Warsaw will be of real assistance to Poles and we insist that Russians cooperate with British and Americans in organizing such assistance, Soviet Government is prepared to agree provided this aid is rendered in accordance with prearranged plan. His Majesty’s Government earnestly desire that no opportunity of aiding Poles in Warsaw be missed.

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Request you consider possibility of mounting operation to drop supplies on Warsaw at earliest possible date. Our representatives in Moscow are aware of Russian decision, and we have requested them to do all possible to make necessary arrangement with Russians.

Presume you will inform General Deane of your decision and of your requirements from Russians through your usual channels.

  1. Repeated to other addressees, including the United States Military Mission, Moscow, and the Combined Chiefs of Staff, Quebec. The message was relayed to Quebec by the War Department as telegram No. 29923 and was received at Quebec on September 14, 1944, as telegram No. Octagon–in–95.↩
  2. Not printed.↩