740.0011 European War 1939/20193
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador to the Polish Government in Exile (Biddle), at London
Dear Mr. Ambassador: I have read with interest your letter of February 20, 194274 and your despatch no. 119 of the same date75 a copy of which you were so thoughtful as to attach to your letter. This despatch and others which have been received during the last few weeks from you have aided us in obtaining a clear and detailed picture of the hopes, fears, and activities of the various refugee governments in London.
The information contained in your recent despatches relating to Poland were particularly helpful to us during the period of General Sikorski’s visit. As he will probably inform you, the General had a number of talks with the President. I had several conversations with him and was favorably impressed with his understanding of the European situation and with the vigorous and frank manner in which [Page 137] he presented the policies of his Government. In my opinion he left here pleased with the results of his visit.
According to information which has reached us but of which we have not obtained confirmation, General Sikorski’s visit to the United States has also served to improve relations between himself and Ciechanowski, which you know have not been good since the retirement of Zaleski.76
We are pleased that you were able to assist in bringing about the shelving of General Sikorski’s plan for working out immediately a post war confederation of the anti-Axis powers on the European continent. There is no doubt that the Soviet Union would have been convinced that such a plan was primarily aimed at it. Now is not the time to launch movements for post war settlements which might be offensive to the Russians. On the other hand we are not inclined to take the position that in order to keep the Russians in good humor we should agree at this time to all of their various projects for a post war Europe.
Your comments with regard to Beneš are interesting. We have the impression here that the Czechs may be rather heavily committed to the Russians and may be working more closely with them than they would like for their other allies to realize. Your opinion on this point would be of interest.
With kindest personal regards,
Sincerely yours,