Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1941, General, The Soviet Union, Volume I

740.0011 European War 1939/12508: Telegram

The Ambassador to the Polish Government in Exile (Biddle) to the Secretary of State

London, June 26, 1941—8 p.m.
[Received June 26—4:23 p.m.]

Polish Series [No.] 24. My No. 21, June 23, 11 p.m. General Sikorski confidentially informed me that (a) in agreement with British Government, Polish Government would adopt a wait and see attitude for next 10 days with regard to Moscow’s reaction to Polish Government’s proposals as voiced by General Sikorski in his radio address of June 23. Meanwhile Polish Government would leave matter in the hands of British Ambassador, Sir Stafford Cripps, and General Mason-MacFarlane,⁸¹ Chief of British Military Mission, after their arrival in Moscow; (b) Cripps and MacFarlane fully understood policy of Polish Government and position of Polish war and civilian prisoners in Russia; (c) Cripps would keep Ambassador Steinhardt fully informed of his talks with Russian authorities.

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Biddle

]

81. Lt. Gen. F. N. Mason-MacFarlane was the head of the British Military Mission which was sent to the Soviet Union following the attack by Germany.