860C.00/7–1346: Telegram
The Ambassador in Poland (Lane) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 15—2:18 p.m.]
1076. In conversation with Olszewski July 11, he brought up our [Page 476] having written note (Deptel 609, of July 3) re attack by Modzelewski on Senator Vandenberg.84
Olszewski said that Modzelewski who is away due to illness, will on his return wish to write me on the subject. Olszewski indicated that in Polish Government’s opinion he had right to attack person not a member of the US Government. I told Olszewski that Senator Vandenberg is member of legislative branch of our government and that in my opinion it was most unfortunate that Modzelewski, a high official in the FonOff, should attack Vandenberg when latter was acting as one of Secretary Byrnes’ principal advisers at Paris meeting of FonMins.
Speaking privately, I said that because of number of Poles in Michigan, I considered Modzelewski’s remarks as creating further antagonism towards Polish Government on part of groups in US of Polish origin. Olszewski said that he felt sure Modzelewski was not aware of this situation and had no desire to interfere in US internal affairs. I replied that the fact that Under Secretary of Foreign Affairs would attack in public speech an important figure in American political life indicated interference.
I also cited Modzelewski’s attack as being inconsistent with recent expression desire of Osobka, Rzymowski and Olszewski to have friendliest relations with us.
- Telegram 992, June 29, from Warsaw, reported that the Polish press of June 27 quoted Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Modzelewski as stating that “the PSL is the ward of Mr. Vandenberg, an American Senator, a well-known isolationist and pro-Hitlerite who is today an advisor to the Dept of State.” (860C.9111RR/6–2946) Telegram 609, July 3, to Warsaw, suggested that Ambassador Lane address a brief formal note to the Polish Foreign Ministry expressing the astonishment of the United States Government that the Polish press should represent the Polish Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs as employing abusive and antagonistic terms in speaking of an important American public figure who was collaborating with Secretary Byrnes in an important conference in Paris (860C.00/7–346). Arthur H. Vandenberg, United States Senator from Michigan, was serving as a special Congressional adviser to the Secretary of State at the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers in Paris.↩