860C.01/6–345
President Truman to Prime Minister Churchill
53. Harry Hopkins has just sent me a most encouraging message about the Polish situation. As perhaps you know, Stalin has agreed to invite to Moscow for consultation, in conformity with our interpretation of the Yalta agreement, the following Poles from London: Mikolajczyk, Grabski or Stanczyk, and Kolodzei. He has also agreed to invite for the consultations the following non-Lublin Poles from inside Poland: Archibishop Sapieha or Witos, Zulawski, and Kutrzeba, as well as two non-Party men—Kolodzierski and Adam Krzyzanowski, the latter two being Stalin’s candidates. We know little about the last two men except that Stalin stated that Kolodzierski was a Doctor of Economic Science, former Director of the Library of the Diet, and present Chairman of the Cooperatives. Hopkins and Harriman approve of the list of names agreed upon and I have informed Hopkins of my whole-hearted approval.
I feel that this represents a very encouraging, positive step in the long drawn out Polish negotiations, and I hope that you will approve the list as agreed to in order that we may get on with this business as soon as possible.
In regard to the arrested Polish leaders, most of whom were apparently charged only with operating illegal radio transmitters, Hopkins is pressing Stalin to grant amnesty to these men in order that consultations may be conducted in the most favorable atmosphere possible.
[Page 315]I am submitting the list to Mikolajczyk and urging that he accept it. I hope you will use your influence with him to the same end. I have asked Hopkins to remain in Moscow at least until I hear from you regarding this matter.
I am sure you will appreciate the necessity for an early reply to this message.