860C.00/12–2245: Telegram
The Ambassador in Poland (Lane) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 23—2:27 p.m.]
704. Mytel No. 701, Dec 21, 6 p.m.16 President Bierut received me this morning. Foreign Minister Rzymowski was also present.
I informed President that I had instructions to express point of view of my Govt that action of National Council of Homeland in limiting number of political parties in Poland is contrary to letter and spirit of Yalta decision. I said that I was making these observations with respect to a principle rather than with regard to any specific party.
Bierut retorted that it is not customary for foreign govt to interfere in the political internal affairs of another country. He said that we would consider it irregular if the Polish Ambassador in Washington should officially object to the fact that there are only two parties in the US.
I replied that in the US there is no limitation on the number of parties and that further the Polish Govt had no responsibility with [Page 435] respect to the American political system while we on the other hand have a direct responsibility under the Yalta Agreement which was the precursor to the formation of the Polish Govt.
Bierut said that his Govt was set up as a result of conference in Moscow between various Polish factions and was not due to the pressure of any one power.
The President said that the principle which I had brought up is not applicable today as Zulawski has agreed to join the Socialist group and that there were no applications from other parties pending. He said, however, that in the event that Zulawski should have asked to form a separate party the Govt would have declined. Bierut said that because of absence of applications to form new parties he considered my Govt misinformed and he wondered why I should make observations for this reason. I agreed that my observations might have no immediate practical effect but that at this moment my Govt wished to emphasize the principle involved.
He concluded the interview by requesting that T inform my Govt that Poland has strictly adhered to the principles of the Crimean Decision.
I did not consider it advisable to argue with Bierut further as to our responsibilities under the Yalta Agreement. It is of course obvious that if free and unfettered elections are to be held the principle should be admitted that any democratic and anti-Nazi party should be permitted to organize and to take part therein. Both Tonesk and I had the impression that Bierut wished to impress Rzymowski with his strict attitude towards us for the President at one point in the conversation became distinctly disagreeable. The meeting however ended amicably.
Sent to Dept as 704, repeated to Moscow as 108.
- Not printed; it reported that Ambassador Lane had arranged to be received by President Bierut (860C.00/12–2245).↩