740.0011 European War 1939/8–844
Memorandum by the Under Secretary of State ( Stettinius ) to the Secretary of State
Mr. Secretary: On August 6, the Polish Ambassador called on me and later on Lt. General McNarney85 to present an urgent request which he had received from the President of Poland for supplies to be furnished by the United States military authorities to the Polish Underground Army which is fighting the Germans in the city of Warsaw. The Polish request asked that either General Eisenhower be authorized to send in supplies by air to these Polish forces or that German munitions captured from the enemy by the Soviet forces be sent to Warsaw from United States bases in the Soviet Union.
The Ambassador’s memorandum stressed the urgency of this matter and pointed out the possible repercussions if these Polish forces should be overcome by the Germans. He added that the arms and ammunition which Prime Minister Churchill had promised to parachute to Warsaw had not been sent because of technical difficulties.
[Page 1374]In a letter dated August 7, 1944,86 the Joint Chiefs of Staff stated that it “believed the Polish Ambassador should be informed that his appeal has been given most sympathetic consideration by the United States military authorities and that the matter has been referred to the Combined Chiefs of Staff for such action as is possible under the circumstances.” The above reply from the Joint Chiefs of Staff will be given to the Polish Ambassador.
In the annexes to the letter from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, it is stated that, in accordance with the agreed policy of the Combined Chiefs of Staff that supplies and equipment for the Polish Underground Forces is a British responsibility, the Polish request should be referred to the British Chiefs of Staff for such action as they may deem necessary and desirable.