Memorandum from Secretary of State Edward Stettinius to President Harry S. Truman

DECLASSIFIED E.O. 11652, Sec. 3(E) and 5(D) or (E) THE SECRETARY OF STATE Dept. of State letter, Aug. 10, 1972 WASHINGTON BALLTHC NARS Date 7-23-77 April 17, 1945 MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT Subject: Current Developments in Foreign Affairs POLISH SITUATION TO BE DISCUSSED DURING MOLOTOV'S VISIT TO U.S. Molotov is leaving on April 17 for Washington but insists on going by a Soviet route, which will take two days longer than across the Atlantic. Harriman expects to arrive on the evening of April 18. Harriman has again reemphasized to Stalin President Roosevelt's deep concern over the Polish question and has forced Molotov to admit the incorrectness of allegations made against Harriman and the British Ambassador in Stalin's message. Stalin believed that an early solution was possible and suggested the Yugoslav formula as a pattern for the composition of the reorganized Polish Government. Harriman insisted the Yugoslav situation was not comparable. Although Molotov raised some objection, Stalin stated that the Polish question could be discussed during Molotov's visit since President Truman, Eden, Secretary Stettinius, Harriman and the British Ambassador to Moscow would all be present. RUSSIANS ARE CONSIDERING CONCLUSION OF SOVIET-POLISH TREATY. Vyshinski has informed Harriman that there is "a great public demand" for the conclusion of a Soviet-Polish treaty of mutual assistance and that such a treaty is now being prepared. Harriman expressed his personal hope that the conclusion of the treaty should be deferred until the new Polish Government has been formed. He felt that the world might interpret the signature of such a treaty before the formation of a new government as an indication that Russia did not intend to carry out the Crimea decisions. Vyshinski