860C.00/8–2046: Telegram
The Ambassador in Poland (Lane) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 22—1:50 a.m.]
1271. Mikolajczyk informed me August 19 that according to latest reports KRN will meet August 31 or possibly week later to approve electoral law which is being drawn up by Swiatkowski, Minister of Justice to replace draft by electoral subcommittee of KRN (which is not holding meetings on subject). Mikolajczyk infers that change of procedure in draft laws signifies Government’s intention to eliminate from law guaranties against fraud which subcommittee insisted on inserting.
Mikolajczyk says that agenda of KRN does not include fixing date of elections. He ascribes this omission to lack of agreement between PPR and PPS. Former desires election which will be “forced” to be held this fall. Latter fearing elimination of PSL and subsequent liquidation of PPS by PPR, presses to postpone elections indefinitely hoping that PSL will eventually agree to join Government bloc. Mikolajczyk stated to me emphatically that he personally will never agree to joining bloc.
As Bentinck informed me that he has shown British note to Mikolajczyk I did likewise in confidence. Mikolalajczyk said that our note was excellent and that guaranties which we had requested be included in electoral law would insure protection of PSL and SP rights if these provisions were carried out.
[Page 493]I expressed hope that PSL would not boycott elections as it would by so doing be playing into hands of its enemies.
He said that test of electoral law would determine whether PSL will have sufficient guaranties of fairness to justify its participation and that peasants would not desire to vote if they knew in advance that they were by so doing acquiescing in a fraud.
Further telegram follows based on Mikolajczyk’s remarks re growing discord between PPR and PPS.