740.0011 Pacific War/3509

The Secretary of State to the Chargé to the Polish Government in Exile (Schoenfeld), at London

No. 49

Sir: There is enclosed a copy of a strictly confidential despatch no. 1655, dated October 7, 1943, from the American Embassy at Chungking,2 on the subject: “Polish Propaganda against Russia and its Relation to China’s War Effort”, with which there is enclosed a memorandum of a conversation between Ambassador Gauss and the Polish Ambassador to China, in which the latter and his Military Attaché outlined their interpretation of Soviet Russia’s international policies and plans and commented upon the general war situation.

You will note that Ambassador Gauss received the impression from the remarks of the Polish representatives that their arguments were motivated chiefly by a hope for a compromise peace which would preclude further Russian invasion of Poland to attack retreating German armies. Ambassador Gauss comments, however, that the Polish Ambassador at Chungking usually seizes every possible opportunity to spread propaganda in behalf of Poland and against Soviet Russia, and Ambassador Gauss expresses concern at the possible effect of such propaganda upon Chinese officials, many of whom have a fear and mistrust of Soviet Russia deeply ingrained in their minds. Ambassador Gauss points out that the spread of such views is definitely detrimental to our general cause in the China theater and states that there is plentiful evidence already of the detriment to China’s war effort consequent upon Chinese suspicion of certain of our Allies.

The Department shares the concern of the American Ambassador at Chungking in regard to the harmful effect upon the Chinese and our general war effort which the further spread of such propaganda [Page 760] in Chungking would have. Accordingly, you may, in your discretion, should a suitable opportunity present itself, informally indicate to the Polish Government the concern which this Government would feel at a continuance of such activities by the Polish representative in Chungking which might tend to vitiate, rather than to give inspiration to, the Chinese contribution to the war against Japan.

Very truly yours,

For the Secretary of State:
Edward R. Stettinius, Jr.