740.0011 Stettinius Mission/3–1944
Memorandum for the Under Secretary of State (Stettinius)3
The United States Government continues to recognize the Polish Government as the legal Government of Poland and no efforts have been made to bring any pressure on this Government to change its composition because of pressure from any foreign government since such action would be interference in the internal affairs of a friendly government. Prior to the termination of hostilities when the Polish people will be in a position freely to express their will, there would appear to be no reason for the United States Government to recognize any other government which may be set up as representative of the Polish people.
The United States Government has offered its good offices to the Polish and Soviet Governments for the purpose of reestablishing diplomatic relations between them, and this offer is still open to acceptance by both parties.
In regard to the territorial question it is the basic position of the United States Government that general discussions of the many European frontier questions during the period of hostilities against the Axis would run the risk of creating confusion and diverting concentration on the over-all objective of defeating Germany. It is felt, therefore, that a settlement of these problems should by their very nature be postponed until the termination of hostilities. If, however, the Polish Government should deem it advisable to attempt reaching a solution of the territorial dispute with the Soviet Government, the United States Government has indicated that it would, in principle, [Page 1268] be prepared to assist through the offer of its good offices to facilitate direct discussions between the Polish and Soviet Governments. In any event it has been made clear to the Polish Government that the United States Government cannot give guarantees for any solution which may be reached.
It would be difficult for the United States Government to give its official approval to any territorial settlement which might be reached between the British and Soviet Governments without the participation of the Polish Government regarding the frontier between Poland and the Soviet Union. Moreover, if the British Government should desire that the United States Government bring pressure on the Polish Government to change its composition to conform to the wishes of the Soviet Union, it is not felt that the United States Government could acquiesce in this matter since, as indicated above, any such arrangement would undoubtedly be considered to be interference in the internal affairs of a foreign state on behalf of a third power.
On the positive side, pending a final solution of these problems after hostilities, the United States Government should continue to use its influence wherever possible to bring about a resumption of relations between the Polish Government-in-exile and the Soviet Government in order to heal this breach in United Nations unity and bring the full weight of all allied nations to bear against our common enemy.
- Prepared in the Division of Eastern European Affairs in connection with the departure for London of Under Secretary of State Stettinius for discussions with members of the British Government, held April 7–29, 1944.↩