Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, Europe, Volume IV

861.00/5–2444

Memorandum by the Director of the Office of European Affairs (Dunn) to the Secretary of State

[Washington,] May 24, 1944.

Mr. Secretary: Mr. Harriman came in yesterday to see me before he left, and he asked me to inform you of three matters which he had discussed with the President and had wished very much to take up with you to receive your views. He also asked me to tell you that if there was anything in the positions which he understands he should take with respect to these three matters, which you might wish to take up with him, he would be very grateful to have your instructions as to your own views.⁶⁷

1. With respect to China, the President felt it would be advisable for Mr. Harriman to ask Mr. Molotov for information as to what the difficulties were which the Soviet Government was now encountering in its relations with China as there seems to be a period of coolness arising between the Soviet and Chinese Governments. Mr. Harriman therefore expects to explore this situation in a friendly way to the extent that the Soviet Government is willing to discuss it.

2. As far as Poland is concerned, Mr. Harriman is authorized by the President to inform Mr. Molotov that the Polish Prime Minister is coming to Washington sometime about the 6th of June next.⁶⁸ The President told Mr. Harriman that he could tell Mr. Molotov that the President expects to tell the Polish Prime Minister that he is to refrain, from any public discussion of the Polish question while in this country, and to avoid any public meetings with groups in the United States particularly interested in the Polish situation. The President further informed Mr. Harriman, but not for conveyance to the Soviet Government, that he expects to urge upon Mr. Mikolajczyk the advisability of so adjusting the policy of the Polish Government in London that no opportunity will be lost to improve the situation existing between the Polish and Soviet Governments.

3. Finland. The President told Mr. Harriman that he could, if he found that the suggestion would be well received, inform Mr. Molotov that this Government would be glad to receive any suggestions from the Soviet Government as to anything we might be able to do to be helpful in getting Finland out of the war and out of its association with Germany. The President did not have any particular suggestions in mind himself, but he thought that if the Soviet Government had any suggestions itself that he would be very glad to receive them and give them full and sympathetic consideration.

James Clement Dunn

67. There is no record in Department files that the Secretary sent Ambassador Harriman an expression of his views.
68. The Polish Prime Minister, Stanislaw Mikolajczyk, visited Washington between June 5 and 14; see vol. iii, pp. 1272–1289, passim.