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

860C.00/7–2646: Telegram

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

secret

Warsaw, July 26, 1946—10 a.m.
[Received 2:35 p.m.]

1128. Developments concerning Labor Party in addition to those reported mytels 1089, July 16, and 1119, July 19,⁹² include following:

1. Bloc press announced 19th that SP Executive Committee has suspended four executive committee members (this action was of course taken by minority bloc rump in SP).

2. Embassy officer has seen censored proofs Gazeta Ludowa⁹³ articles (publication of which were forbidden) 16th and 17th reporting actual story of Labor Party seizure by rump group.

3. Member SP has informed Embassy that in past week, 40 SP members have been arrested and that Government has given Widy-Wirski⁹⁴ one million zlotys to carry on rump activities and that rump group has taken over SP headquarters Warsaw as well as weekly Olgswa and fired old employees.

4. Seven Popiel followers KRN have resigned seats on ground that he was appointed to KRN not as SP member but as political figure from London. Popiel did not resign. It is reported he will make speech next session KRN denouncing tactics used against his party.

Embassy believes that disappearance SP from active political life Poland will lead to following:

1. Great increase political tension here and further discouragement to moderate elements who hoped in spite of referendum results that non-totalitarian solution might be found to Poland’s political problems.

2. Increase forest bands and underground conspiratorial circles in cities.

3. Increase PSL membership through adhesion from SP members especially among miners Upper Silesia.

4. Success Marxist tactic of “isolating the opposition”. Bloc parties and press may now concentrate all efforts on PSL and after “proving” that PSL is reactionary and anti-Semitic proceed destroy PSL influence.

Sent Dept as 1128.

Lane

92. Neither printed. Telegram 1089, July 16, from Warsaw, reported the publication on July 14 of a resolution by the Executive Committee of the Labor Party postponing the Labor Party Congress scheduled for July 19. The Embassy further reported that the resolution had been apparently released by a pro-regime rump group of the Labor Party without the knowledge of the leadership of the party. (860C.00/7–1646) According to telegram 1119, July 19, from Warsaw, Karol Popiel, the President of the Labor Party, informed Ambassador Lane that the Labor Party Congress had been cancelled as a result of threats on the part of the Government that all persons attending the meeting would be arrested. Telegram 1119 further transmitted the text of a statement to be issued to the foreign press by Popiel announcing the suspension of activity by the Labor Party due to the actions of the Government and the unauthorized activity by the “Zryw Narodowy” faction of the party. (860C.00/7–1946)
93. Organ of the Polish Peasant Party.
94. Feliks Widy-Wirski, Vice President of the Executive Committee of the Labor Party and leader of the “Zryw Narodowy” faction of the party; also Wojewod (Governor) of Poznan.