840.4016/8–245: Telegram
The Ambassador in Poland (Lane) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 4—5:38 a.m.]
15. British Chargé62 showed me last night text of telegram addressed to him and British Ambassador, Prague,63 instructing them to concert with American and Soviet colleagues with a view to making similar demarché to Polish and Czechoslovak Governments respectively to postpone further expulsions of Germans from Polish and Czechoslovak territory into Germany pending further advice from Joint Chiefs of Staff. British Chargé was instructed to make representation today at 2 p.m. Greenwich Time at latest in the event that his American and Soviet colleagues had not received instructions before that time.
I have until now received no instructions of the Department. Hankey says that he was unable to communicate with Soviet Ambassador.64
British Chargé dAffaires informs me that Foreign Minister stated to him today at 3 p.m. Warsaw time (1 p.m. Greenwich) that Polish Government would postpone expulsions, but made following observations:
- 1.
- Many Germans returning were not expelled but went voluntarily when Russians advanced into Western Poland.
- 2.
- Polish Government appreciates confusion now existing in Germany and necessity for not adding to it.
- 3.
- Polish Government desires, however, to effect reconstruction immediately in Stettin and Oppeln, Silesia and will necessarily have forwarded [sic] to expel Germans from those areas.
Please repeat to Prague as my 1, to the Department as my 15, and to London as my 2.