860C.00/11–2147: Telegram
The Ambassador in Poland (Griffis) to the Acting Secretary of State
1897. For Lovett. On Wednesday November 19, I was called to the Foreign Office at 6 p. m. and, in the presence of Foreign Minister Modzelewski, director political department, Olszewski, and the head of the American section, Doctor Leszczynski, I was handed a note reading as follows:
“Excellency: I have the honor of calling the attention of Your Excellency to the following facts.
As Your Excellency knows, ex-deputy Stanislaw Mikolajczyk left Poland’s frontiers illegally. On the basis of depositions of persons detained in this affair by the Polish authorities, among others a Mrs. Maria Hulewicz and Wincanty Bryja, and on the basis of other evidence, it has been established that officials of the American Embassy, among others Mr. Monroe W. Blake and Mr. George D. Andrews, aided Mikolajczyk in his illegal departure. I am convinced that Your Excellency will agree with me that such a procedure on the part of the Embassy’s diplomatic officials had the character of intervention in Poland’s internal affairs and was a glaring violation of legal regulations in force in Poland and an abuse of diplomatic privileges as well as the rights of hospitality.
[Page 465]Mr. Andrews left Poland in the meantime. As regards Mr. Blake, however, I am forced to declare with regret that he has ceased to be persona grata and therefore I request his immediate withdrawal from Poland.
I will be grateful to Your Excellency for informing me what attitude Your Excellency has taken in this matter and I avail myself of the opportunity of assuring Your Excellency of my high regard. Signed Z. Modzelewski.”
Additional information in immediately following telegram.1
- Infra. For Ambassador Griffis’ own account of this interview, see Griffis, Lying in State, p. 174.↩