Matthews Files
United States Delegation Memorandum on the Polish Government 1
Text of Formula on Poland So Far Agreed by the Three Foreign Ministers
“A new situation has been created by the complete liberation of Poland by the Red Army. This calls for the establishment of a provisional Polish government2 more broadly based than was possible before the recent liberation of western Poland. The provisional government3 now functioning in Poland should be reorganized on a broader democratic basis with the inclusion of democratic leaders from Poland4 itself and from those living abroad. This new government will then be called the ‘Polish Provisional Government of National Unity.’ Mr. Molotov, Mr. Harriman, and Sir Archibald Clark Kerr,5 are authorized to consult in the first instance in Moscow with members of the present provisional government and with other democratic leaders from within Poland and from abroad with a view to the reorganization of the present government along the above lines. This ‘Polish Provisional Government of National Unity’ would6 be pledged to the holding of free and unfettered elections as soon as possible on the basis of universal suffrage and secret ballot. In these elections all democratic and anti-Nazi parties would7 have the right to take part and to put forth candidates.
“When a ‘Polish Provisional Government of National Unity’ has been properly formed in conformity with the above, the three governments will then accord it recognition.”8
In lieu of the following sentence: “When a ‘Polish Provisional Government of National Unity’ has been properly formed in conformity with the above, the three governments will then accord it recognition.” Mr. Molotov suggests the following rewording:
“When a ‘Polish Provisional Government of National Unity’ has been properly formed in conformity with the above, the Governments of the United States and of Great Britain will establish diplomatic relations with it as has been done by the Soviet Union.”
This sentence was not accepted by Mr. Stettinius or Mr. Eden.
He said he would bring it up again at the four o’clock meeting this afternoon.
[Page 884]The British still advocate inclusion of the following sentence:
“The ambassadors of the three powers in Warsaw, following such recognition, would be charged with the responsibility of observing and reporting to their respective governments on the carrying out of the pledge in regard to free and unfettered elections.”
- Undated carbon copy. On August 13, 1954, Matthews wrote that he thought this memorandum had been drafted by him (640.0029/8–1354). It was presumably prepared after the Foreign Ministers’ meeting on February 10, 1945. The notations in Matthews’ handwriting, indicated in footnotes, reflect some of the changes incorporated in the text as reported by Eden to the Plenary Meeting that afternoon (post, p. 898).↩
- “which can be”↩
- “which is”↩
- “Poles”↩
- Sir “A.” Clark Kerr ↩
- “shall”↩
- “shall”↩
- The last seven words are crossed out and the words “Mol, formula” are written in the margin.↩