Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, Europe, Volume V

860C.01/3–2645: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State

Moscow, March 26, 1945—3 p.m.
[Received 9:15 p.m.]

912. Polco. Clark Kerr has shown me his recent telegram outlining the British Government’s reaction to Molotov’s memorandum and the questions discussed at the meeting of the Commission on March 23 and in accordance with the instructions contained in the Department’s 704, March 25, 8 p.m.,⁴⁴ we have postponed the meeting scheduled for today.

On the basis of the tenor of the discussions so far, I feel that it would be useless to continue to argue over the interpretation of each word in the Yalta declaration on Poland and abstract points of procedure since this discussion could continue for weeks and get nowhere.

As I see it we should reach agreement with the British to make it plain to Molotov that if any progress is to be made, we should concentrate in attempting to reach agreement as a Commission on the following points:

1. On the basis of the Yalta declaration, we should agree to invite simultaneously to Moscow three groups of Poles, one representing the Warsaw Government, the second composed of representative members of the democratic Polish elements in Poland including a churchman, and four or five democratic Poles from London including Mikolajczyk. Until we have made it absolutely clear to Molotov that we can accept no other basis for the consultations, we will continue to argue at cross purposes.

2. Once we have reached agreement on point (1), we should then concentrate on the selection of the individuals who are to come to Moscow representing each of the three groups. In this connection, we should make it clear to Molotov that we have no objection to inviting any members of the Warsaw Government or other Poles acceptable to that Government whom Molotov may desire but that it must agree to the Commission’s inviting for consultation a well balanced group of Poles from Poland and abroad whom we consider to be representative of the different Polish democratic political elements and who are not already tied in with the Warsaw Government. In regard to Mikolajczyk’s new list contained in the British Government’s telegram to Washington on March 24,⁴⁵ I feel that Mikolajczyk’s approach is unrealistic and aims too much at perfectionism. While it might be helpful from his point of view to have all of the underground leaders brought here for consultation, I feel most definitely that if we attempted to carry this out we would cause undue delay in getting at the heart of the problem, which is to start consultations as soon as possible with representative Poles who, while they may not in every case be the most prominent leaders of their parties, are representative Poles and not Comintern agents. I feel that from the names we have already suggested, we can agree upon such a list of representative Poles and therefore I recommend that Clark Kerr and I be permitted to press this point with Molotov and endeavor to get him to agree to a list of five Poles from Poland and five from London, all of whom are on Mikolajczyk’s lists but not necessarily in all cases his first choice.

3. It should be agreed in principle by the Commission that after consultations begin, other leaders can be invited if advisable.

4. I feel that while we should continue to press for permission to send our observers to Poland, we should not, in view of Molotov’s present attitude on this point, insist upon this as a prerequisite to agreement on the other points. We could give in on this point as a quid pro quo to Molotov’s agreeing to allow a representative group of Poles to come from Warsaw who would be in a position to advise us regarding the present temper and feeling of the Polish people.

5. After invitations have been issued to all three groups, I feel that as a practical matter, the Commission should meet the Warsaw representative first in order to apprise them of the realities of the Yalta agreement as the British and we understand it.⁴⁶

Harriman

44. Not printed.
45. The British had met with Mikolajczyk and reviewed with him the lists of persons to be consulted by the tripartite commission in Moscow from among political leaders within Poland and in London. As a result, Mikolajczyk had drawn up a second, shorter list which contained the following names: Witos, Bagiński, Bien, Zulawski, Zaremba, Fajdak, Chaciński, Jankowski, Urbański, Trampczynski, Jasiukowicz, Zielinski and Adam.
46. In his telegram No. 931, March 27, 2 p.m., the Ambassador in the Soviet Union reported that he had reconsidered this point (5) and felt that the question of whether all three groups of Poles should be called before the Commission at the same time should be left for further determination depending upon developments (860C.01/3–2745).