97. Memorandum of Conversation0
PARTICIPANTS
- The President
- Mr. Jaroszewicz, Deputy Prime Minister of Poland1
- Mr. Spasowski, Polish Ambassador
- Mr. Lewandowski, Director of American Desk in Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Mr. R. H. Davis, Deputy Asst. Secretary, EUR
- Mr. Edmund Glenn, Division of Language Services, Interpreter
After some welcoming remarks to which the Deputy Prime Minister replied by expressing gratification for his reception, the President said it was with considerable pleasure and satisfaction that he had noticed an increasing tone of friendship in the relations between Poland and the US which was in keeping with our traditional relations as exemplified [Page 269] by the assistance the young American Republic had received many many years ago from Polish patriots. He wished to take this opportunity to thank the Polish people for the reception given Vice President Nixon and hoped that Mr. Jaroszewicz would find the same warm feeling of friendship toward the Polish people in his contacts with Americans here.
Mr. Jaroszewicz replied that the Polish Government wishes to develop these traditional good relations. The visit of the Vice President in Warsaw permitted a clarification of certain problems and the strengthening of these relations. He wished to convey the greetings of Mr. Gomulka, Prime Minister Cyrankiewicz, and other leaders of the Polish Government to which the President asked that his greetings be returned.
Mr. Jaroszewicz said that the President was still remembered in Poland as the Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Forces including Polish units which played a prominent role in the achievement of victory over Fascist Germany. The President spoke in appreciation of the fighting qualities of the Polish people and reminisced of his visit to Warsaw in the autumn of 1945, commenting on the terrible destruction which he had seen and asking whether the main cathedral had been reconstructed. Mr. Jaroszewicz replied that the cathedral had been rebuilt and all the other destroyed churches. After a further exchange about conditions in Warsaw at the end of the war, the President spoke of the contribution which people of Polish ancestry had made to the development of this country and the high regard in which they are currently held.
Mr. Jaroszewicz said he would like to take advantage of the President’s sympathy and understanding of the Polish people to speak of their desire for peace. However, the Polish people’s main worry is the rebirth of German militarism of which they see many signs. Because of his experience during the war the President would understand this worry.
The President replied that he could possibly understand but he did not believe that the German people wanted war any more than the Polish people. The West Germans have only started in the last three years to build up any defense forces and they plan on only 12 divisions. He could not agree that this force could be a menace to anyone. The President added smilingly that the reason the West Germans had become so rich is that they had spent nothing on defense forces prior to this.
Mr. Jaroszewicz replied that the President’s book “Crusade for Freedom”2 had been published in Poland and in it he pointed out that the US forces at the beginning of World War II were not very large. He continued that it was not the size of the West German forces which [Page 270] bothered the Poles but the feelings and objectives of the Germans buttressed by statements of West German political leaders which created anxiety and worry on the part of the Polish people.
The President said that he personally deplored statements which created such feelings and said that he did not indulge in attacks against any governments no matter how much he might disagree with their policies. The President said he knew of no people who would want war even if they knew they were going to win because in present circumstances war was very destructive and all peoples would pay a terrible price. Perhaps governments including our own were not wise or smart enough yet to bring to fruition the hopes and aspirations of the peoples to achieve a lasting peace but we must continue to work to this end. A program for peace must include raising the standard of living, helping other peoples to achieve their legitimate aspirations, and understanding of each other and sacrifices to bring about solutions of problems at the negotiating table and not on the battlefield.
Mr. Jaroszewicz replied that both the Polish people and government fully appreciate the President’s efforts for peace and fully agreed with his ideas. He would like however to mention another problem, i.e., the western border of Poland. He said that any attempt to change the western Polish border could only bring on war. Any statement by the US which would confirm its support for the present Polish borders would be a stabilizing factor. In reply the President said there was no piece of territory in the world worth war. It was necessary to overcome the prejudice of people; there were those who thought that the Polish people got territory in the West as a quid pro quo for having to give up territory in the East; that this created resentments and that we would have to overcome these resentments by an educational program. The President added he thought the question would be finally settled, that the people would accept it and the resentments would be forgotten. He added that he would be no party to starting or participating in a war over territorial questions. Moreover, the President was certain that the West Germans will never start a war. They might keep the issue alive but they would not start a war. In the latter months of the war they had begun to experience the punishment which they had inflicted on others and the President was convinced they don’t want another war. Mr. Jaroszewicz repeated that a stabilizing factor would be for the US Government to take some action to convince public opinion that the settlement of the border question at the end of the war was a “just one”.
Mr. Jaroszewicz said he would like to raise another question. As the President knew, economic discussions were now being held on reciprocal trade matters, elimination of trade barriers, settlement of claims, credits, and sale of agricultural surplus. He would like to enlist the President’s personal interest in the settlement of these questions.
[Page 271]The President replied that he did take a personal interest in these matters; that there were certain legal barriers but he thought we were gradually overcoming them. He knew that the US Cabinet felt that we must get a better trade relationship and he personally was in favor of increasing trade and the Cabinet knew this. The President observed that our system of government is sometimes difficult for other people to understand; that we have three co-equal branches and when they clash, then we have trouble. The President referred to the unusual situation where for the last six years the Executive had had to contend with a Congress in which the majority was the opposition party. Still the Presidential office is the most powerful of our political institutions and hence Presidential opinions do have influence. Mr. Jaroszewicz expressed understanding of this and was certain that the President’s help and interest would be of decisive weight in further promoting good relations particularly in the trade field.
The President concluded the interview by suggesting the press photographers be allowed in to take pictures.
- Source: Eisenhower Library, Whitman File, DDE Diaries. Confidential; Limit Distribution. Drafted by Davis. The meeting was held at the White House.↩
- Piotr Jaroszewicz arrived in the United States on March 23 for a 15-day visit at the invitation of the U.S. Government. The Polish group toured the eastern United States and was in Washington March 24–26 and again on April 6. Jaroszewicz was the highest-ranking Polish official to visit the United States since World War II and the highest-ranking official in economic matters.↩
- Reference is to Eisenhower’s book, Crusade in Europe, published in 1948.↩