760C.61/2263: Telegram
The Chargé to the Polish Government in Exile (Schoenfeld) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 5—9:35 p.m.]
33 Poles. The Polish Telegraph Agency has issued an authorized statement to the press denying that existing orders to the Polish underground forces to make themselves known to and to cooperate with Soviet forces entering Poland have been revoked and referring to an approach by the Polish Government to the British and American Governments designed to secure their assistance in the prevention of incidents between the Polish and Soviet forces.
The statement summarizes the orders issued to the Polish underground which provide: That the representatives of the underground civil administration shall approach the Soviet commanders and inform them that they meet the Soviet forces as co-belligerents in the fight against Germany; that they shall state that there is in existence an administration secretly organized by the Polish State; and that they expect that in accordance with international law, the Soviet Army will enable Polish authorities during military operations on Polish soil to assure the social and economic welfare of the population.
The communiqué goes on to say that reports received in London indicate that formations of the Polish underground army have revealed themselves to the Soviet forces at a considerable number of places and the regional commander of the Polish underground army established contact with the commander of the Soviet cavalry division near Luck, and further that Polish formations have established contact with Soviet paratroops beyond the front line and the Polish underground army has increased its activities in the rear of the German Army.
[Page 1359]“Messages from Poland confirm,” the statement continues, “that the Soviet commanders receive assistance everywhere and that they praise the fighting spirit and the leadership of the Polish underground forces. On the whole Soviet cooperation with the Polish underground army has been satisfactory. However reports have been received from one or two localities which have caused anxiety and require elucidation. The Polish Government has communicated the facts of such reports to the British and American Governments and requested their assistance in the prevention of incidents which may hinder the further coming into the open of the Polish underground army and render impossible concerted military operations against the Germans. Instructions to come into the open and to cooperate with the Soviet Army in the fight against the Germans have not been revoked and still remain in force.”
Repeated to Moscow.