860C.01/8–444: Telegram

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

2860. Personal for the President and the Secretary. Mr. Romer called this morning to tell me about the conversation with Stalin and Molotov last night. Mikolajczyk was accompanied by Romer and Grabsky. The conversation lasted two and a half hours.

The first part of the conversation was devoted to a discussion of the character of the cooperation of Poles with the Red Army. Mikolajczyk explained to Stalin the operations of the underground forces. At first Stalin belittled them but later listened attentively. Stalin explained that Partisan activity was valuable but that he was not interested in mobilizing a large percentage of the population into the Army. The most important assistance the Poles could give was the development of a stable civilian life behind the Red Army front so that agriculture could be stimulated and assistance given in transport and so forth.

The conversation then turned to the boundary question. Stalin explained that he would support Polish boundaries to the north and to the west including even Stettin and Breslau which Romer told me was beyond what the Poles considered sensible. Stalin told him that he wished to incorporate the northern portion of East Prussia that included Koenigsberg into the Soviet Union and that the Curzon line should be the eastern boundary. Mikolajczyk argued for Lwow and Vilna on the grounds of Polish rights and from the standpoint of [Page 1306] world opinion. Stalin emphasized the rights of White Russians and Ukrainians and that the Curzon line was set by an impartial International Commission. Although firm, he gave some encouragement to the idea that the setting of the boundary could be left for future determination. Romer got the impression that the question of Vilna was difficult but that there was some hope for Lwow although the conversation was so general that no interpretation could be made that Stalin was ready to agree to a modification of the Curzon line in favor of the Poles.

The third and last phase of the conversation dealt with the question of the Polish Government. Stalin stated frankly that he hoped Mikolajczyk could work out an agreement with the Committee of Liberation, that he was interested in having all Poles united so that there would be a stable Poland both during and after the war with a minimum of internal conflict. He said that if Mikolajczyk did not succeed in making arrangements with the Committee he would of necessity have to back and deal with the Committee. Mikolajczyk said that he was ready to meet with members of the Committee. Stalin agreed to telegraph them to come to Moscow or Kiev and that this meeting should take place within the next day or two.

No mention was made of any individuals in the Polish Government objectionable to the Soviet Government nor to the Katyn incident.

Romer appeared quite optimistic but he gave me a message from Mikolajczyk to the effect that in reporting the conversation to you I should not give you an over optimistic impression. Mikolajczyk considers that the ice has been broken but nothing so far accomplished.

Harriman