File No. 860c.01/32
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France ( Sharp)
2715. Your 2591, October 11, midnight. Department understands that British Government has to-day recognized Polish National Committee sitting in Paris. Before similar action is taken by this Government, Department requires information on the following points:
- 1.
- Have you received a formal written communication from the committee asking for recognition by the United States? If so does your telegram outline substance of such communication? If not you should intimate to the committee that this Government desires that you receive a written request for recognition before it acts.
- 2.
- Department is very confidentially informed that this committee is endeavoring to secure recognition from England, France, [Page 770] Italy and the United States, but not from Russia. The Department cannot but feel that failure to consult Russia in a matter that concerns her so intimately could not but affect adversely the success of the whole movement, a movement that has the hearty sympathy of this Government. So far as the Department is able to learn the Russian Government has manifested no spirit of opposition to the committee which would justify this course, but on the contrary it would apparently accord a sympathetic reception to any overtures from the National Committee. Inasmuch as the other great powers have been consulted and Russia has apparently been slighted, it can hardly be expected that she will take the initiative in offering recognition. In the belief that Russia would be given substantial ground for complaint by any failure to consult her about the matter the Department has advised the Russian Embassy in this country that it is prepared to act with Russia in the recognition of the committee. You should most discreetly and orally inform the members of the committee that both for reasons of justice and in what we conceive to be the best interests of the movement the Department is anxious not to work at cross purposes with Russia in the matter; that we have reason to believe that Russia would look with favor upon a suggestion from the committee if accompanied by a statement that the committee would maintain in Russia a representative whose status should be similar to that of Paderewski in this country. So far as the Department can see, this condition would work to the distinct advantage of the committee itself. The Department has also been informed that the committee in Paris as at present constituted has no representative of the Ludowe or Peasant Party. If you deem it wise you may intimate to the committee that this Government trusts that its membership will include as representative a body of Poles as possible. The Department believes, however, that if the committee secures one Polish representative who would remain in Russia the question of Russian representation in Paris would not be a substantial one. This Government has no desire to interfere in the internal management of the Polish National Committee, but it believes that the consent and approval of the Russian Government is essential if the committee is to have effective influence.
The Department considers this whole question one of the greatest delicacy. In any conversations you may have you should take pains to emphasize the fact that this Government has no selfish ends to serve and that its representations are based solely on its sympathy for the Poles and its ardent hopes for the success of the movement undertaken by the National Committee.