740.0011 European War 1939/33994: Telegram
The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State
[Received 11 p.m.]
1343. In my talk with Molotov last evening I had an opportunity to mention my Government’s gratification over the reported arrangement for cooperation between the Red Army and the Polish underground (Department’s 890, April 12, midnight).
Molotov responded that his only information about the subject had come from the British press, that in accordance with what he had told Clark Kerr65 there had been two groups of Partisans who had come [Page 1362] over to the Red Army but in answer to my inquiry he made it plain that these were Partisans and not connected with the Polish Government’s underground. In response to my further direct questions he maintained that he had had no information of any contact with the Red Army.
The Polish statement of the arrangement agreed to by the Soviets does not sound plausible, as it is difficult to believe that the Soviets would bring into the Red Army detachments of Poles loyal to the London Government recruited in areas claimed by the Soviet Union.
Is there anything further in the matter that you wish me to do?
Sent to the Department, repeated to London, secret for Stettinius.
- Sir Archibald Clark Kerr, British Ambassador in the Soviet Union.↩