860c.4016/61: Telegram
The Minister in Poland (Gibson) to the Acting Secretary of State10
[Received June 1, 2.11 a.m.]
38. Have had long frank talk with Chief of State regarding Jewish situation in general and situation at Chenstokhov in particular.
- 1.
- He states that he has given positive instruction for the maintenance of order and protection of the Jews at Chenstokhov.
- 2.
- That he is issuing peremptory orders to the Polish Army stating that he will not tolerate anti-Jewish acts; that punishment will be severe and that the officers will be made responsible for the behavior of their men.
- [3.]
- The Minister of the Interior has been in Chenstokhov to investigate and with a free hand to take such steps as may be necessary. He is expected back tonight and his report is promised me without delay. General Pilsudski was evidently alarmed and indignant. He said that [to persecute] the Jews brought shame upon the name of Poland and could not but harm the country, that no matter what might be said these millions of Jews are in Poland; they are not going to leave Poland and the Poles have got to live in close contact with them. “The Government as well as all good Poles are strongly opposed to any persecution for we know that we cannot settle down to peaceful development while there is discord among elements of our own population. For the good of the country the Government is determined to put down any anti-Jewish activities with an iron hand.”
Confidential. He told me that until the last few days he had felt that anti-Jewish persecution pretty well at an end but that the troops newly arrived from France had shown a disposition to make life miserable for the Jews, chasing them through the streets, cutting off their beards et cetera. That this was causing a recrudescence of such acts by the civil population and this is confirmed by statements made to me this afternoon by reliable American–Jewish informant before I saw General Pilsudski.
- Forwarded by the Commission to Negotiate Peace as No. 2383.↩