860C.00/3–2046: Telegram
The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Poland (Lane)
us urgent
268. Urtel 247, Feb. 26. From your reports it would appear that Govt intends to postpone elections with a view to eliminating organized participation in the elections by Pol Peasant Party as a separate party. London’s 3187 Mar 20 sent Warsaw as 46 indicates that Bierut has announced postponement of Pol elections until autumn though no confirmation has been received from Emb.96
It has been suggested that this Govt associate itself with Brit Govt in requesting clarification of Pol Govt plans for the holding of elections. If you perceive no objection you may inquire immediately at FonOff when Govt intends to hold elections. Should it appear from reply that Govt intends to postpone elections, Dept is prepared to send you appropriate instructions. You may inform your Brit colleague of action taken. For your info no definite commitments were made by Pres Bierut at Potsdam to American delegation regarding election date.97
You may request that a copy of draft electoral law be transmitted to you as soon as it is prepared in order that it may be studied by Dept.
- Telegram 3187, March 20, from London, not printed (860C.00/3–2046). In telegram 456, April 3, from Warsaw, Ambassador Lane reported on a conversation with Acting Foreign Minister Modzelewski who stated that it was doubtful if elections would be held before September at the earliest (860C.00/4–346).↩
- In telegram 446, April 1, from Warsaw, Ambassador Lane reported on his discussion with the British Ambassador in Poland regarding this telegram from the Department. Mr. Lane concluded his report as follows: “British Ambassador informs me that according to information which he has received from Mr. Bevin latter insisted at Potsdam that Bierut give a more specific date for elections than ‘early in 1946’. For that reason final assurance was made in following words ‘in any case early in 1946’.” (860C.00/4–146)↩