860C.20/8–645: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Poland (Lane)
18. Action reported in urtel 27, August 6, noon58 approved. Department feels that Embassy should not take an active part at this stage in discussions relating to the repatriation of Polish soldiers in the West.59 You should, however, take advantage of suitable occasions to stress discreetly the desirability of the Polish Government’s giving assurances that soldiers electing to return will be guaranteed the same personal and property rights as other Polish citizens and that they will not be penalized in any manner for their former allegiance.
- Not printed; it reported a conversation between the Ambassador and Marshal Michal Rola-Zymierski, Minister of National Defense in the Polish Provisional Government of National Unity. The Ambassador had inquired whether their oath to the President of the Polish Government in Exile in London would permit Polish troops abroad to return to service under the present Government in Poland, and Marshal Rola-Zymierski had replied that if the Polish troops abroad were advised to obey his orders, the greatest part of the problem would be solved. (860C.20/8–645)↩
- The decisions of the Conference of Berlin relative to Poland, included as part IX of the Report on the Tripartite Conference of Berlin, dated August 2, 1945, stated that the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union were “.… anxious to assist the Polish Provisional Government in facilitating the return to Poland as soon as practicable of all Poles abroad who wish to go, including members of the Polish Armed Forces and the Merchant Marine. They expect that those Poles who return home shall be accorded personal and property rights on the same basis as all Polish citizens.” ( Conference of Berlin (Potsdam), vol ii, p. 1508).↩