760C.62/1152
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Under Secretary of State (Welles)
The Polish Ambassador43 called to see me this morning. The Ambassador read to me a telegram he had just received from his Foreign Minister. Colonel Beck stated that the Polish Government [Page 301] had never believed that the Soviet Government was sincere in its alleged desire to conclude any political or military agreement with France and Great Britain, and that the announcement of the intended conclusion of a non-aggression pact between Russia and Germany consequently did not affect the Polish position in any way. Colonel Beck stated that Poland from the outset had stated clearly its unwillingness to enter into any agreement providing for the passage of Russian troops, or even Russian airplanes, over Polish territory, and that consequently the attitude of Poland in this regard could in no sense be regarded as the cause for the breakdown in the negotiations between Great Britain and France and the Soviets. Colonel Beck stated that it was his understanding that the Soviet agreement with Germany would contain a clause automatically voiding the contemplated non-aggression pact provided war broke out as a result of an attack by Germany on any third European country. He was also informed that no agreement had as yet been reached in principle between Germany and the Soviet with regard to many important points, particularly the policy to be pursued by Germany vis-à-vis Japan. In general the message was very calm and reiterated the fact that the Polish Government would rely on the pledges given it by Great Britain and France and would make no concessions of any kind to threats of aggression from Germany.
The Ambassador said that this message from his Government was very reassuring; that he individually was deeply concerned because of the possible effect which the announcement of the intended agreement would have upon public opinion in England and in France. He said that he was afraid it might force the British Government into a further appeasement policy. I said that as yet I had no information as to the attitude of these two Governments from our Embassies in London or Paris.
- Count Jerzy Potocki.↩