Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1945, General: Political and Economic Matters, Volume II

740.00119 Control (Germany)/8–2545: Telegram

The Ambassador in Poland (Lane) to the Secretary of State

Warsaw, August 25, 1945—6 p.m.
[Received September 27—3:50 p.m.]

145. On August 21 Brigadier General Eric Fisher Wood, Deputy Director PW (Prisoners of War) and DP (Displaced Persons) Division USGCC (US Group Control Council), arrived from Frankfurt to consult with appropriate Polish military officials regarding repatriation Polish displaced persons and to consummate insofar as possible arrangements previously discussed with Colonel Naszkowski, Chief of Polish Military Mission Paris. General was assisted by Embassy in meeting General Spychalski Chief of Staff to Marshal Eola Zymierski on August 22.

General has reported to Embassy that at his first meeting he informed Polish officials of problem and indicated his desire to have them confirm Government’s readiness to cooperate in program for repatriation of considerable portion of the 335,000 Poles now in US zone and limited to those who desire to return to Poland. When Polish officials indicated they might require week to study this problem he told them of necessity of his departure following day and he would require their answer before that time. As result of lengthy conference with Lt. Col. Alef and Major Sosnicki who were designated by Gen. Spychalski to carry on discussions, Polish military officials then agreed in principle to plan presented by Wood. General requested that detailed agreement should be signed. This was first thought by Poles to be difficult of immediate accomplishment but after General insisted he could not prolong his stay various steps set forth below were agreed to and document signed by Gen. Spychalski was delivered just prior to Gen. Wood’s departure:

1. Polish Govt in every way anxious to expedite repatriation of Polish DPs (Displaced Persons) and officer POWs before winter.

2. It will welcome all Polish liaison officers for repatriation in US zone (and subsequently in British zone) who declare adherence to present Government, and will maintain them in their present functions. Polish field officers from Warsaw Government under instructions of Major Sosnicki will go to US zone to interview all Polish liaison officers and accompanied by officer of Gen. Wood’s staff will offer each liaison officer opportunity to declare adherence to present Polish Provisional Government. (Gen. Spychalski declined to agree to sentence proposed by Gen. Wood to effect that such declaration if made would be accepted as being in good faith and would continue to be so accepted during behavior loyal to Provisional Government the US army to be judge of this loyal behavior while liaison officers are in US zone and based on close conference and advice of Major Sosnicki.)

3. Gen. Wood had suggested to Maj. Gen. Philipov of Marshal Zhukov’s⁸² staff that Gen. Eisenhower⁸³ wished to deliver 10,000 Polish DPs per day beginning about September 1, at transfer points Bebra–Eisenach and Hof–Plauen; that these were same transfer points through which up to 10,000 Russian DPs had been delivered; that substantially all Russian DPs had now been evacuated from US zone by that procedure; that same procedure previously organized and operated by Zhukov for transport of Russian DPs should be continued by him for transportation Polish DPs.⁸⁵ Above procedure would be in furtherance of specified terms of Potsdam agreement.⁸⁶

4. Polish Government acknowledged timely receipt this information and advises Gen. Eisenhower through Gen. Wood that it has already initiated negotiations with Zhukov for carrying out proposals outlined preceding paragraph and that it expects early affirmative answer from Zhukov and USSR.

5. As alternative either supplementing or in place of above procedure Polish Government desires US authorities look into possibilities of foot marches through Czecho. If Czech Government preliminary reaction favorable Polish Government ready to approach Czech Government with further proposals. Polish Government declares that foot marches if made may properly average 25 kilometers per day and question of proceeding through Russian zone Germany will be exclusively in hands of Polish Government unless further notice given by Polish Government to Gen. Eisenhower.

6. Polish Government agrees to receive and care properly for its repatriates at western border of “new” Poland any time after September 7 and assume full responsibility for such reception and care.

7. Except as modified by above subject matter of letter of August 3 from Gen. Wood to Gen. Mickelsen⁸⁷ is agreed to by Polish Government. (This letter sets forth details of plan to which Col. Naszkowski had agreed in Paris and by which movement of DPs will take place.)

Repeated to Paris as my 55 and to Moscow as my 46.

Lane

82. Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov, Chief of Soviet Forces in Germany and Chief of the Soviet Military Administration for Germany.
83. General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower, Commanding General, United States Forces, European Theater; Commander in Chief, United States Forces of Occupation in Germany.
85. On September 7, representatives of the Polish Provisional Government of National Unity and the United States Group Control Council for Germany met in Berlin to consider the details of the repatriation of Polish displaced persons from the United States zone of occupation in Germany. Several general repatriation routes by railroad and the details of train movements were arranged. While the American representatives stated that they were aiming at the objective of repatriating 10,000 Polish displaced persons daily, Polish authorities indicated their inability, under current conditions, to handle more than 5,000. Both sides reiterated that foot-marching by displaced persons would be considered only as a last resort. The American representatives expected the first repatriation trains to be running within a week.
86. For texts of the Potsdam agreements referred to here, see Foreign Relations, The Conference of Berlin (The Potsdam Conference) 1945, vol. ii, pp. 1491 and 1508.
87. Brig. Gen. Stanley R. Mickelsen, United States Representative on the Prisoner of War Directorate of the Allied Control Authority for Germany.