860C.01/12–344: Telegram

The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Kennan) to the Secretary of State

4624. The reports mentioned in my 4623, December 3, of appeals addressed by various gatherings in Poland to the National Committee of Liberation begging the latter to assume the position of the Provisional Government of Poland may be taken as strong evidence that this step has already been decided upon by the real sources of power in that area and may be expected to be put into effect and announced in the near future. The meetings and the appeals should be regarded as a pre-arranged build-up for the final act.

It may be noted that the proposed Provisional Government of Poland would be not dissimilar in form to that of France.

[Page 1439]

Representatives of the Polish Committee of Liberation were noted among those present at the station yesterday to greet de Gaulle22 upon his arrival in Moscow.

Kennan
  1. The Government of the Soviet Union had decided to recognize the Provisional Government of the French Republic on October 23, 1944. Gen. Charles de Gaulle, as head of the Provisional Government, journeyed to Moscow, December 2–10, and while there signed a treaty of alliance and mutual assistance on December 10. See vol. iv , section under Union of Soviet Socialist Republics entitled “Reports on developments of significance …”