840.4016/12–445: Telegram
The Ambassador in Poland (Lane) to the Secretary of State
Warsaw, December 4,
1945—2 p.m.
[Received December 6—3:39 p.m.]
[Received December 6—3:39 p.m.]
629. I am taking the liberty of deferring action on Deptel No. 310, Nov. 30, 6 p.m., regarding alleged forcible repatriation of Germans for the following reasons:
- (1).
- From investigations made by members of my staff who have traveled through western part of Poland I am not convinced that Germans have been subjected to any widespread harsh treatment although they have, of course, suffered in some cases from evictions from their homes. In many cases where they have had opportunity to obtain food and work their condition has left no ground for complaint.
- (2).
- Many of reports regarding ill treatment came from Germans themselves who, in keeping with their characteristic of whining after losing war, make the picture as black as possible.
- (3).
- While not wishing to condone any cruel treatment on the part of the Poles, it is very understandable, after one has seen the results of the systematic destruction of Warsaw, the inhuman treatment by the [Page 1319] Nazis during the occupation and the concentration camps at Majdanek, Oswiecim and elsewhere, if the Poles have not handled the Germans with kid gloves.
- (4).
- The British have been seriously criticized here on the ground that they have been more mindful of the well-being of the Germans than of the Poles. The Polish press, encouraged by the Soviet Govt, has emphasized British softness towards the Germans. There is a tendency on part of press to pick on US as well and I hear that if we make official representations along lines of Dept’s instruction we will incur popular displeasure.
- (5).
- I realize that Poland has obligations under Potsdam decision with which it must comply. I hope, however, that Dept will permit me to confine my representation re the alleged mistreatment of Germans to an oral statement as otherwise I foresee possibility of our being charged with lack of appreciation of what Poland has suffered at the hands of the Germans. The international consequences seem to me to be so important in this situation as to warrant a reconsideration of the instructions given me.
(When General Eisenhower was here September 21, he expressed disagreement with view held by others that Germans from Poland were being ill treated and said after seeing destruction of Warsaw that he wished every member of his army could see what he had seen that day.)
Sent Dept as 629, repeated to Berlin as 145.
[Lane]