760c.61/251: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Wallace)30
[Paraphrase]
Washington, August
31, 1920—7 p.m.
1430. Your no. 1615, August 26, 5 p.m.31 Since the situation regarding Poland, especially with respect to her eastern boundary, will probably come up for discussion in the Council of Ambassadors, it is the desire of this Department to give an outline of its attitude. This is to inform and guide you. It should be repeated by you to our Legation in Poland.
- 1.
- It is clearly understood by the Department that any just Polish claim to territory east of the line set by the Supreme Council of the Peace Conference on December 8, 1919, is not prejudiced by that decision at a time when Russia also can be heard.
- 2.
- It is the view of this Department that Poland should not try to establish any civil administration east of the line fixed by the Peace Conference pending the determination in the future of a definite boundary. In 1919 and the first months of 1920, the Department remembers, military necessity was alleged by Poland as the reason for continuing itsi advance into Russia, the Poles going from one alleged strategic boundary to another. It is the very strong feeling of the Department that if the Poles advance beyond the frontier lines, such advance should have a definite and strict limit. It should only be made with a clear statement as to the necessity and the object involved, and also a declaration of the determination to evacuate when military conditions should make it possible. It is of especial importance that a veiled excuse for further invasion of Russian territory be not found in a strategic consideration. It is the desire of the Department to emphasize again the substance of the note contained in telegraphic instructions to the Chargé in Poland on August 21, answering a message from Premier Witos. The Department believes that a declaration by the Government of Poland that it is not its policy to oppose the restoration of Russia to strength and unity would have more effect in strengthening the Polish position than a series of victories beyond the boundary line.
- 3.
- It is the special wish of the Department to avoid such Polish-Lithuanian difficulty as might arise if Poland occupied Vilna. The Department believes that the issue of the possession of Vilna in the future ought not to be raised now and should not be prejudiced by occupation of the city by the armed forces of Poland.
- 4.
- As the Treaty of Versailles has not been ratified by this country, the United States cannot actively take part in negotiations between Poland and Danzig or have influence in controlling the High Commissioner’s activities. The United States, nevertheless, believes that Poland is justified in its contention for free transit through Danzig. This Government thinks that proper measures to secure such freedom of transit might be taken by the powers which have ratified the Versailles Treaty.
- 5.
- Prince Sapieha in talking with White at Warsaw asked him if the making of peace with Soviet Russia would be viewed by the American Government as a desertion of the cause of the Allies. Considering the conditions in which Poland finds itself and the fact that the American Government cannot promise to render Poland material assistance if she should continue the contest, it is the view of the Department that the Poles should adopt any reasonable measures to end the present conflict.
For repetition to London as no. 935, to Rome as no. 164, Berlin as no. 1149, and Warsaw as no. 371.
Davis