860C.5151/12–646: Telegram
The Ambassador in France (Caffery) to the Secretary of State
us urgent
[Received 5:10 p.m.]
5998. From Lane. I am much concerned by Deptel 1141, December 2, 10 a.m. to Warsaw which is so different in its import to telegram drafted during my stay in the Department that I fear it will have most unfortunate effects on our efficacy and prestige in Poland.
With reference to the five alternatives mentioned by the Department I submit the following comment:
- (1)
- I very much doubt that Polish Government would agree to our obtaining funds through sale of currency on open market in view of other alternatives suggested which would be more favorable to Polish Government.
- (2)
- For the reasons which apply to (1) I feel that Polish Government would decline to agree to what might constitute in our opinion a reasonable minimum rate of exchange.
- (3)
- Same comment applies with respect to reasonable diplomatic rate of exchange. As the interpretation of what is reasonable would be subject to protracted negotiations, I seriously doubt whether it would be possible for decision to be reached prior to December 15.
- (4)
- While in my opinion Polish Government would prefer alternative 5 it would also welcome our requesting fantastically large appropriations from Congress to enable our American establishments to function, thus furnishing Polish Government with increased foreign exchange. Polish Government is undoubtedly fully aware through talks which I have had with leading officials and which I trust Department will have in accordance with my memorandum to the Secretary of November 25 that the attitude of the Polish Government towards US must some day become public knowledge. Despite my warning to this effect Polish press has followed a consistently hostile attitude towards US thus indicating Polish Government’s disregard for public [Page 527] opinion in US with respect to Poland. Therefore implied threat that public debate would react to disadvantage of Polish Government would in my opinion have little if any effect. As I pointed out to Under Secretary Acheson and Assistant Secretary Russell our Government’s request of Congress for a sufficiently large appropriation will inevitably entail considerable delay which should be avoided in all events if we are not to lose the services of many members of our staff and thus curtail our essential activities and services.
- (5)
- I am sure that the Communist-controlled Government would welcome the virtual cessation of our activities in Poland, especially should such activities cease immediately prior to the elections scheduled for January 19 and thus prevent our reporting fully on the elections and on later developments. This proposed move is so divergent from what I understood to be our basic policy towards Poland, namely our intention not to decrease our activities such as the closing of the Consulates at Poznan and Krakow—that I deeply regret Department did not communicate with me requesting my comments prior to issuing such definite instructions to Keith, especially as one of the primary reasons for my proceeding to US was to assist in solution this problem.
In light of foregoing, I earnestly recommend that Department will authorize Embassy Warsaw, as had been agreed upon with interested offices and divisions in the Department, to obtain funds for the Embassy through sale of currency on the open market in view of impracticability of obtaining funds through other means and in view of fact that other diplomatic missions in Warsaw also obtain funds through open market. As Department is aware that [there] is precedent for such authorization.
In event that Dept does not feel it can concur in this recommendation I should be very grateful if Dept would reply to this telegram to reach me in Paris prior to December 10, date on which I propose to proceed to Warsaw.
Sent to Dept as 5998. Repeated to Warsaw for Keith only as 208. [Lane.]