Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, The British Commonwealth and Europe, Volume III

860C.01/12–344: Telegram

The Chargé in the Soviet Union (Kennan) to the Secretary of State

Moscow, December 3, 1944.
[Received December 4—5:46 a.m.]

4623. Moscow papers for December 3rd publish following Polish items:

1. Lublin despatch headed “Polish people demand transformation of Polish Committee of National Liberation into Provisional National Government” reporting meetings of inhabitants of Praga Council of Trade Unions in Lublin Province and other public meetings in Lublin all of which adopted resolutions demanding that the Committee be transformed into a Provisional National Government on the basis of the record of its accomplishments. Resolution adopted at Praga meeting as reported in Rzeczpospolita for November 26 reads in translation:

“We inhabitants of Warsaw assembled in a meeting and having become acquainted with the situation existing in Poland consider that the results of the activities of the Polish Committee of National Liberation achieved over a period of several months indicate that the time has come for its transformation into a temporary government. Therefore those assembled here appeal to the Polish National Council to raise this question in the immediate future at its meeting and guided by the wishes of the inhabitants of Warsaw and most likely the inhabitants of all Poland to create a Provisional Government as the executive power of Poland and the Polish people.”

2. Lublin despatch reporting public meeting at Lublin addressed by representatives of various parties to enlist volunteers from workers, peasants and intelligentsia to enter recently opened officers school of Polish Army. Item reports that similar resolutions were adopted at meetings in various industrial enterprises.

3. New York despatch quoting statements of radio commentator Gilmore¹⁵ to effect that Polish Emigrant Government is completely bankrupt and that people who lived 5 years under Nazi domination in Poland will not agree to the return of Polish reactionaries to replace the Nazi masters.

4. Long section in Pravda’s international review bitterly attacking new Arciszewski Government¹⁶ in London. Article identifies Arciszewski with Pilsudski¹⁷ clique and characterizes him as one of most malicious enemies of Soviet Union. Concerning other members of new government article describes Kwapinski as bitter enemy of Soviet Union, Folkerski¹⁸ as “extreme nationalist and anti-Semite”, Berezowski¹⁹ as anti-Soviet and an adherent to Nazi racial theories and Kukel²⁰ as “right hand man of Sosnkowski” and one of the principal organizers of Katyn forest²¹ provocation.

Formation of Arciszewski “Government”, continues article, fully reveals whole dirty game of Polish reactionary emigration. It is clear that Polish reactionary clique in London has decided to take offensive and break completely with policy which Mikolajczyk tried to follow. Agents of emigrant government are circulating malicious anti-Soviet documents among members of British Parliament and American Senate. These documents are challenge not only to Soviet Union but to British and American Governments which are accused of unwillingness to support territorial pretentions of Polish imperialists. New York Post is quoted to effect that aspirations of these elements envisage greater Poland extending from Baltic [to] Black Seas. Associated with them is group of Social Democrats whose deeply rooted [hatred?] for Soviet Union has led them to dangerous accord with Aristocrats, large land owners, and militarists.

Article then quotes British journalist Montgomery to effect that these questions are of vital importance not only for achievement of victory but for guarantee of future peace of Europe. If there is in Poland a government openly or covertly hostile to Russia a difficult situation will be created not only for Soviet Union but for all Allied governments sharing responsibility for effective control over Germany in postwar period. Montgomery, comments article in conclusion, exaggerates role and position of Polish emigrant clique. These political bankrupts cannot alter course of history, cannot force Polish people from course which it has taken. Formation of Arciszewski Cabinet does not solve either the Government crisis or crisis of Polish reactionary emigration, “collection of political bankrupts”.

Sent Department as 4623; repeated to London as 283.

Kennan

15. Eddy L. K. Gilmore, Associated Press correspondent in the Moscow Bureau.
16. The cabinet formed by Tomasz Arciszewski on November 30, 1944, succeeding the Mikolajczyk Cabinet.
17. Jozef Pilsudski, Marshal of Poland; Chief of State (Provisional President), 1918–22; Prime Minister, 1926–28, 1930; and quasi-dictator until his death in 1935.
18. Wladyslaw Folkierski, Minister of Preparatory Work concerning the Peace Conference, and Minister of Education and Religious Affairs in the Arciszewski Cabinet.
19. Zygmunt Berezowski, Minister of Interior in the Arciszewski Cabinet.
20. Lt. Gen. Marjan Kukiel, Minister of National Defence in both the Mikolajczyk and Arciszewski Cabinets.
21. See Foreign Relations, 1943, vol. iii, pp. 374–404, passim, and ante, pp. 1238–1240, and 1243.