Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, The British Commonwealth and Europe, Volume III

740.0011 European War 1939/7–2544

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Secretary of State

[Washington,] July 25, 1944.

The Polish Ambassador called at my request. He handed me a secret communication (copy attached) summarizing a letter from Premier Mikolajczyk to the President which was handed to Minister Schoenfeld in London on July 21, for transmission to Washington. I said that all I could do was to forward the letter to the President just as early as possible, adding that the President was some distance away.

The Ambassador then brought up the question of the so-called new governmental organization which Russia is reported to be supporting.⁷¹ I said that there was nothing I could say at this time. I added that, of course, I understood the position of the Ambassador’s Government.

[Annex]

The Polish Ambassador (Ciechanowski) to the Secretary of State

On cable instructions received July 23 from the Polish Prime Minister, Mr. Stanislaw Mikolajczyk, the Polish Ambassador personally submitted to the Secretary of State the following urgent matter:

1) On July 21 the Polish Government handed to Minister Schoenfeld in London for re-transmission to the President of the United States a letter from Premier Mikolajczyk concerning the active participation of the Polish Underground Army in the taking of Wilno and its collaboration with the Soviet Armed Forces on the territories of the north-eastern confines of Poland. The latest information received by the Polish Government directly by radio from the Commander of the Polish Underground Army are annexed to the letter of Premier Mikolajczyk to the President. In his letter the Premier stresses that all these informations prove the most accurate and precise carrying out of the instructions issued by the Polish Government to the Polish Underground Army. These instructions, pertaining to collaboration with the Soviet Armed Forces against the common enemy and the increased activities of the Polish Underground Army, are known to the President and the United States Government.

2) On the territory of the Province of Wilno active military collaboration with the Soviet Armed Forces has been established similarly to the collaboration in the Province of Volhynia by the Polish Underground Army. In the opinion of Premier Mikolajczyk, this creates a new opportunity for a wider Polish-Soviet understanding, the importance of which was so greatly stressed by President Roosevelt. Premier Mikolajczyk is convinced that the latest instances of collaboration between the Polish Underground Forces and the Soviet Forces in Poland could be utilized in a positive way providing proper measures are immediately taken. At the same time, however, he expresses the fear that if these facts are not fully taken advantage of by means of appropriate steps, contact between the Soviet and Polish Armies may become a source of friction and difficulties harmful to the collaboration between the United Nations.

3) Conscious of the deep sympathy and understanding shown by the President for what the Polish Nation has already undergone, Premier Mikolajczyk again appeals to the President to use all his influence with the Soviet Government in order to make it refrain from taking steps which would be detrimental to the vital interests of Poland and to the Allied War effort.

4) Moreover, Premier Mikolajczyk points out that at the time when the war has entirely involved the territories of Poland, the Polish Underground Army should be given the fullest possibility of continuing its fight against the Germans under the authority of the Polish Government and under Soviet operational command in accordance with the agreement reached by the Polish Underground Forces and the Soviet Armed Forces in Volhynia in March, 1944.

5) On the basis of the above stated facts, the Polish Premier, on behalf of the Polish Government and on the basis of the appeal contained in the enclosed telegram from the Commander of the Polish Underground Army, submits to the President the urgent request that American liaison officers, at present in Moscow, should be immediately sent to Wilno.

6) Simultaneously Premier Mikolajczyk renews the request he made of the President that American representatives be sent secretly to German-occupied Poland in order to be in contact with the Polish Underground Organization under German occupation. The very presence of such American representatives would greatly and appropriately influence the course of events. The Premier likewise stresses the deep impression which the absence of any Allied representatives in Poland would inevitably create among the Polish population at this most vital moment for the future of the Polish State.

7) Premier Mikolajczyk emphatically stresses the importance and great urgency of these matters and expresses the hope that, in view of this great importance and urgency, he may count on a favorable answer from the President.

Texts of the telegrams mentioned above, received by the Polish Government from the Polish Underground Command and Administration, are attached.⁷²

Premier Mikolajczyk instructs the Polish Ambassador personally to submit these matters to the Secretary of State and to stress that the passing of the Polish Underground Army from sabotage and diversion activities to open fight against the Germans in the Province of Wilno had already started in the month of May, and that, regardless of exceptionally difficult conditions, the organization of a full division of the Polish Underground Army on the territory of the Province of Wilno, from previously prepared smaller units, has been successfully achieved and brought into the fight.

Premier Mikolajczyk also informs the Ambassador that he has submitted this situation to Prime Minister Churchill.

Washington, July 24, 1944.

71. For correspondence concerning the attitude of the United States toward the establishment of a Soviet-supported government within Poland, see pp. 1398 ff.
72. None printed.