Memorandum by the Secretary of State to President Roosevelt 29
In a conversation this morning with the Under Secretary, Prime Minister Mikolajczyk expressed a natural desire to be sure that he clearly understood your offer to lend him moral support in any efforts he might be able to make to reach a mutually satisfactory understanding with the Soviet Government.
The Prime Minister foresees that the need for such moral support might arise under the following possible circumstances:
“For instance, if there should be a possibility of establishing direct conversations between the Polish and Soviet Governments, Premier Mikolajczyk would appreciate it if the President could lend his moral support to the Polish Government by an expression of hope to the Soviet Government that such conversations might be successful provided he felt it opportune to do so at that time. In the event that such conversations take place and a stalemate should ensue therefrom, Premier Mikolajczyk expresses the hope that, if in the prevailing circumstances the President should feel it to be opportune, he might again lend his moral support in an effort to overcome the stalemate.
“Since it is the sincere desire of Premier Mikolajczyk: to make every effort to reach a mutually satisfactory understanding with the Soviet Government, he hopes that in the event that such conversations should not take place, or if such conversations should be broken off, he could still count upon the moral support of the United States Government for a free and independent Poland.”
The Prime Minister would appreciate any observations or corrections you might care to make in regard to his understanding of this matter when he calls to take leave of you today.
It is felt that in discussing this question with the Polish Prime Minister, it would be advisable to reiterate to him that such moral support as we may be in a position to give will, of necessity, fall within the framework of our tender of good offices.
- Copy obtained from the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, N. Y.↩