860C.00/11–2146: Telegram
The Chargé in Poland (Keith) to the Secretary of State
most immediate
[Received November 21—9:38 a.m.]
1801. I was able to see Mikolajczyk 20th and discuss points mentioned in Deptel 1094 November 18. Mikolajczyk intended that “notes” to which I previously referred (Embtel 1780, November 17) were [not?] to be in the sense of an appeal to Yalta Powers but an informative [Page 518] communication setting forth the situation which confronts the PSL and repressive measures being taken against it. He told me 20th that the communication which he has already delivered to Bierut covered difficulties experienced in the Krakow area. There is a further communication which was to have been sent before this to Bierut covering a much fuller exposition of the action taken in entire country against PSL. Because of additional incidents which they wished to include in that communication it has not yet been presented. Consequently the “notes” which it had been planned to give British Soviet and US Missions in the course of this week had been held up. Mikolajczyk said that the question of making an “appeal” to the Yalta Powers might later be under consideration; the question of a boycott would not be decided prior to the 20th of December at the earliest and possibly not until January 5; the decision would largely be influenced by the knowledge PSL would have at that time as to whether or not it had found it possible to put up its candidates. He said it might be possible some time in the future to again bring up the question of observers but if such an action were taken it would be because he wanted it to be evident that he had not neglected to take any step possible which might help his people.
Text of note contained in Deptel 1095 of November 18 has been received. I plan to deliver note at noon 22 to Modzelewski with whom my appointment is already scheduled. Bentinck has informed his FonOff that I have received our note and he is awaiting instructions. He hopes to be able to deliver British note likewise to Modzelewski on 22.
I shall telegraph Department immediately when note has been presented.
Inasmuch as our note and the British note are to be presented before Mikolajczyk’s communications are delivered to us, does the Department still wish the Embassy to discourage Mikolajczyk from communicating with the Three Missions as he has planned to do?53 Bentinck and I do not feel that it would harm our interest nor worsen the position of Mikolajczyk if he sends them to us. They will supply us with evidence which we should have and we may subsequently be able to check some of the points ourselves and thus have even stronger evidence (some of this info which Mikolajczyk plans to give us has from time to time been given by him to the press). We feel also it would hearten [Page 519] the Polish people if they knew that the facts had been made known to our two Governments.
In my talk with Mikolajczyk, I raised doubts as to the consequences of any boycott and I told him I felt certain that there was little chance of observers.
Sent Department as 1801.
- Telegram 1124, November 25, to Warsaw, commented as follows regarding Mikolajczyk’s proposed notes: “Dept continues to feel that any direct communication from Mikolajczyk to Yalta powers, particularly if it called for any reply or action on their part, would be unwise at this stage and might start a train of events, including his exclusion from Govt, which would lead to boycott of elections which we are anxious avoid. You may suggest to Mikolajczyk that he might request Bierut to transmit to Yalta powers copies of his communication to Polish Government.” (860C.00/11–2146)↩