740.0011 European War 1939/7–2044: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11 p.m.]
2682. Department’s 1731, July 18, midnight. On the basis of my past experience with the members of the Soviet Government I doubt that it would be wise to volunteer this information to them at this moment. The decision in question represents only a continuance of past practice. I feel instinctively that if we were to tell the Soviets about it now, it would probably not be properly understood, and that it would give rise to more questions and suspicions than it would allay. The Russians will not be impressed by the Polish Ambassador’s assurances, and will almost certainly take the view that the funds are being used to support activities opposed to groups which they themselves view with favor in Poland.
If the information must be imparted, then I feel that it should preferably be done informally in Washington. Whoever takes this step should be prepared to follow it up, if necessary, by giving the Russians a full picture of the exact uses to which the money is put. We are not in a position to do this here.
In particular, I cannot recommend that General Deane undertake this task. It would be difficult to persuade the Russians to view this matter as a purely military one; and again they might read into General Deane’s action entirely unjustified and unfortunate implications with possible adverse effect on his relations. The Red Army, in our experience, is never willing to discuss anything which the Soviet Government considers to have a political color.
General Deane concurs.