760C.61/2217a: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman)
281. For your background information there are given below paraphrases of three questions asked by the Polish Government and the replies approved by the President to these questions. For reasons of security it is not possible to give you the exact wording of the President’s replies which were very carefully worked out.
As a result of recent conversations between Mr. Churchill and Mr. Mikolajczyk during which the former made certain proposals for the settlement of the Polish-Soviet dispute (Churchill’s telegram to Stalin, January 28), the Polish Government on January 26 asked that the following three questions be submitted to the President for his consideration and reply:
- 1.
- Does the United States Government believe it to be advisable to enter at the present time upon discussions for the final settlement of European territorial problems?
- 2.
- In principle is the United States Government prepared to participate in bringing about settlements of this kind and in guaranteeing them?
- 3.
- In regard to Mr. Churchill’s plan and its realization does the United States Government feel it possible to lend its support to this plan?
The following replies approved by the President were made to the numbered questions asked by the Polish Government:
- 1.
- It is well known that the basic position of the United States Government is that general discussions of the various European frontier problems during the period of hostilities against the Axis run the risk of creating confusion and diverting concentration from the principal objective of defeating Germany. It should be understood, however, that this attitude does not preclude the possibility of a direct settlement by mutual accord between any two countries which have mutual territorial problems. In view of recent developments the United States Government recognizes that certain complex and vital considerations may render it desirable for the Government of Poland to endeavor to reach without delay a solution with regard to its territory.
- 2.
- In principle the Government of the United States would be prepared through the offer of good offices to the Polish and to the Soviet Governments to assist in helping the Polish Government freely to reach a settlement of its territorial problems by facilitating direct discussions between the Polish and Soviet Governments. Although the Government of the United States would welcome the achievement of a solution by friendly accord of the outstanding questions between Poland and the Soviet Union, the United States Government is not in a position to guarantee any territorial settlement.
- 3.
- While, as stated above, there can be no question of guarantees as far as the United States Government is concerned, it is prepared to lend its support to the British Prime Minister’s endeavors to bring about the reestablishment of relations between the Soviet and Polish Governments on the basis of a friendly solution of all outstanding difficulties.