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

860C.00/12–3146: Telegram

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

secret
us urgent

Warsaw, December 31, 1946—3 p.m.
[Received December 31—11:15 a.m.]

2018. Remy immediately preceding telegram³ British Ambassador and I have been conferring daily on subject of proposed notes of Polish Government. Bentinck’s note which I trust British Embassy Washington will make available to Department is based principally on material furnished by Mikolajczyk and in fact follows the line of part 2 of Mikolajczyk’s letter of December 18 to Yalta Powers in enumerating abuses against PSL. Bentinck feels this is necessary for sake of British public opinion. On other hand have felt it preferable not to lay us open to charge that we are fighting his battle as contrasted with the general principle of free and unfettered elections. Bentinck’s note is less general than my draft but he makes no allusion as to what may be possible result insofar as British Government is concerned of the abuses about which he complains. We, however, should make it plain that the flouting of Polish Government obligations must inevitably lead to our withholding financial and economic assistance. Our silence would no doubt be interpreted as acquiescence in the illegal and inhuman measures taken against opposition parties and as a travesty of Yalta agreement.

In view of arrests intimidations et cetera it is now possible that Government bloc may triumph even should voting and counting procedure be correct. Therefore if our notes should be sent subsequent to election Polish Government could argue that it knew nothing about preelection abuses and that as elections have been held it is no longer responsible. Bentinck and I feel as does Mikolajczyk that it is essential notes should be sent prior to election and if possible at least 10 days before January 19 and that they be released to press immediately subsequent to delivery.

Sent Department as 2018.

Lane

3. Telegram 2017, December 31, from Warsaw, not printed; it transmitted the draft text of a note regarding the forthcoming elections which Ambassador Lane asked he be authorized to deliver to the Polish Foreign Minister as soon as possible (860C.00/12–3146). For text of the note as delivered by Ambassador Lane on January 5, 1947, see Department of State Bulletin, January 19, 1947, p. 134.