760C.61/10–846: Telegram
The Ambassador in Poland (Lane) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 10—11:15 a.m.]
1560. Embassy informed that a letter setting forth PSL points of view addressed to Stalin and signed by Mikolajczyk, Kiernik and [Page 509] Wojcik41 was handed by those three on October 3 last to Soviet Ambassador in Warsaw. According to informant Lebiediew received letter without comment further than that it would be forwarded to Moscow. It is known to Polish Govt that such document was given Soviet Ambassador but it is not known to Polish Govt that copies were furnished to American and British Embassies in strictest secrecy.
Communication is a defense of PSL internal and foreign policies, an attack on PPR and UB for their persecution, political shackling and terrorization of PSL and a plea for Russian-Polish friendship as well as for Soviet understanding of PSL objectives mainly PSL insistence upon strengthening of Soviet–Polish alliance. Document points out ways in which Polish Govt bloc parties particularly PPR have violated most of agreement in their treatment of PSL and states that “peasant masses” represent 70% of Polish people.
PSL letter says that PPR leaders assert that they have support of Soviet Govt and Red Army that anyone who does not follow PPR will have Russia against them and that free elections would bring PPR defeat and consequent loss by Poland of independence. The document goes on to state the average citizen accepts such PPR words without criticism and as result extends his dislike for PPR to dislike for Russia and Red Army. Following statements also significant:
“The PPR usurps for itself the right to monopoly of Polish-Soviet friendship. Consequently it looks with dislike and even with enmity upon activities of people from other camps who really desire to make more permanent the friendly life between Polish and Soviet nations. Even meetings arranged by PSL and devoted to Polish-Soviet friendship have been broken up.
“Under these conditions the sincere atmosphere with which Polish nation greeted victorious army entering Poland has not been properly utilized to create a foundation for friendship between two Slav nations. The shortsighted PPR policy aiming to make PPR authority permanent in Poland despite nation’s will has led to creation of unfriendly feelings for Soviet Union and its Red Army. This is greatest harm which PPR has done to Poland and Soviet Russia.”
Full translation communication follows by despatch.42
Dept please repeat to Moscow.