760C.61/2159: Telegram

The Chargé to the Polish Government in Exile ( Schoenfeld ) to the Secretary of State

9. Polish Series. For the President and the Secretary. Romer28 has just sent me a revised text of the statement quoted in my 7, January 14.29 Revised text is considerably softened in tone and reads as follows:

“The Polish Government have taken cognisance of the declaration of the Soviet Government contained in the Tass communiqué of January 11th, 1944, which was issued as a reply to the declaration of the Polish Government of January 5th.

The Soviet communiqué contains a number of statements to which a complete answer is afforded by the ceaseless struggle against the “Germans waged at the heaviest cost by the Polish nation under the direction of the Polish Government. In their earnest anxiety to safeguard the complete solidarity of the United Nations especially at a decisive stage of their struggle against the common enemy, the Polish Government consider it to be preferable now to refrain from further public discussions.

While the Polish Government cannot recognise unilateral decisions or accomplished facts which have taken place or might take place on the territory of the Polish republic, they have repeatedly expressed their sincere desire for a Polish-Soviet agreement on terms which would be just and acceptable to both sides.

To this end the Polish Government are approaching the British and United States Governments with a view to securing through their intermediary the discussion by the Polish and Soviet Governments with the participation of the British and American Governments of all outstanding questions, the settlement of which should lead to a friendly and permanent cooperation between Poland and the Soviet Union. The Polish Government believes this to be desirable in the interest of the victory of the United Nations and harmonious relations in post-war Europe.”

Text is to be released to the press at 12:30 a.m. London time January 15.

[Schoenfeld]
  1. Tadeusz Romer, Polish Minister for Foreign Affairs.
  2. Not printed; this telegram communicated to the Department a draft of the Polish Government’s statement regarding the differences dividing the Soviet and Polish Governments. The Chargé also reported that Polish Foreign Minister Homer said that “he was hereby making formal request for our good offices.” (760C 61/2157)