Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, Eastern Europe, The Soviet Union, Volume VI

860C.00/2–2646: Telegram

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

secret
us urgent

Warsaw, February 26, 1946—4 p.m.
[Received March 71:50 p.m.]

247. Mikolajczyk dined with me privately Feb 25. He gave me chronology of recent developments stating that since his talk with Keith⁷² there has been a definite change in plan of Communist group in Polish Govt. As he told Keith former plan was to initiate terroristic military operations in Bialystok area with aid of one Soviet Panzer Division, dismiss Mikolajczyk and other PSL Ministers from Govt thereby bringing situation to head with US and British and consequent withdrawal of two Embassies. Because of visit to Bialystok of US Military Attaché and correspondent AP followed by visit of British military officials it was seen that plan had been discovered and change was agreed upon. Date for dismissal of PSL Ministers of Govt was set for Feb 15 which would coincide with opening of NSZ trial and presentation by Vyshinski to UNO in London of Yugoslav note re Anders having recruited Yugoslavs for his army.⁷³ Mikolajczyk also attributed change to support of British position in Indonesia by Stettinius at UNO meeting.⁷⁴

As former plan was unworkable govt then decided to adopt other tactics and postpone elections probably for 6 to 8 months. During this period attempts would be made to persuade PSL to adhere to bloc at the same time that “pacification” of country would be undertaken by security police.

Mikolajczyk said that at Cabinet meeting Feb 21 he was given until March 1 to make up his mind as to whether PSL would make its decision at its own convenience. Mikolayczyk said that at meeting of Feb 21 Govt had proposed to him that four major parties each receive 20 percent representation in KRN and that remainder be divided between two minor parties. Mikolajczyk said he rejected this as obviously his party commands more than 20 percent of total electorate. At this meeting Mikolajczyk had made his condition for representation of 75 percent in KRN which would include both PEL and PSL. This would give Mikolajczyk discretion of determining how many seats he would allot to latter. He told me he had not made any other conditions. Mikolajczyk said that by having complete control of KRN his party would be able to prevent enactment of a constitution which Govt has in mind to perpetuate itself in power and do away with elections in the future.

Mikolajczyk said that at the meeting on Feb 21 Modzelewski had requested Mikolajczyk to refute Byrnes’ statement re political murders in Poland.⁷⁵ Mikolajczyk refused to do so saying that these murders were continuing. Modzelewski thereupon accused Mikolajczyk of [apparent omission] whereupon, according to Mikolajczyk, he retorted, “Little boy, are you of all people speaking for the Poles?” Mikolajczyk said that following this interchange with Modzelewski, he had spoken for 2 hours citing cases and giving names and dates of political murders by security police.

Mikolajczyk said that he is of belief that once he and his party come out publicly in favor of a separate list, Govt will take position that as he and other PSL Ministers are in opposition to Govt, they must leave the Govt. In this event he hopes very much that British and US Govts will take position that this is a violation of provisions of Yalta Agreement and that as a broadening of the base of the Govt by inclusion of Mikolajczyk and members of his party was a condition which led to recognition on part of US and GB (Great Britain) we would take a strong stand on this matter. He said, however, that it would be preferable not to issue any statement unless dismissal from Govt of him and his PSL colleagues had been effected.

As to grain shortage Mikolajczyk said that he himself had proposed to Govt last summer advisability of obtaining grain through UNRRA but that Mine had vetoed this recommendation on ground that Poland had plenty. According to Mikolajczyk reason for putting food situation in secondary category was because of desire last summer and autumn to stress recuperation of industry for purpose of enlisting political support of Govt by workers.

Bentinck⁷⁶ informs me that he is telegraphing Bevin recommending in case joint statement is made by two Govts that no reference be made to our disapproval of single list. He informs me that Foreign Office considers that a statement disapproving single list might lead to an embarrassing situation after election if single list were adopted. Following my conversation with Mikolajczyk, however, I am convinced that he has no intention of adhering to single list.⁷⁷

Sent to Dept as 247, repeated London 37, Moscow 14 of Feb 26.

Lane

[Ambassador Lane gave an appraisal of the political situation in Poland in a letter of March 1, 1946, to H. Freeman Matthews, Director of the Office of European Affairs; for text of letter, see Lane, I Saw Poland Betrayed, page 193.]

72. For the report on the Keith–Mikolajczyk conversation of February 17, see telegram 206, February 19, from Warsaw, p. 395.
73. Regarding the Yugoslav memorandum presented to the United Nations by Vyshinsky, with reference to the alleged activities of the Polish Army in Italy, see footnote 51, p. 399.
74. Regarding the consideration of the Indonesian question by the Security Council in January and February 1946, see Yearbook of the United Nations, 1946–1947, pp. 338–341. Edward R. Stettinius, Jr. was chairman of the American delegation to the United Nations. For additional documentation regarding the Indonesian question, see vol. viii.
75. For text of Secretary Byrnes’ press statement of January 31, 1946, regarding political murders in Poland, see Department of State Bulletin, February 10, 1946, p. 209.
76. Victor Cavendish-Bentinck, British Ambassador in Poland.
77. Telegram 131, February 27, to Warsaw, requested Ambassador Lane to obtain Mikolajczyk’s views regarding a possible Anglo-American statement opposing a single electoral list in the Polish elections (860C.00/2–2746). In telegram 260, March 1, from Warsaw, Ambassador Lane expressed the view that it would be preferable to make no statement unless Mikolajczyk and his party were excluded from the Government (860C.00/3–143).