Foreign Relations of the United States, 1950, Central and Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume IV

948.536/9–1350

Memorandum of Conversation, by the Acting Secretary of State

confidential

[Washington,] September 13, 1950.

Participants:	The Polish Ambassador, Mr. Jozef Winiewicz
	The Acting Secretary
	Mr. Vedeler, EE1

The Polish Ambassador called at his request to protest against the treatment of the M.S. Batory while in the port of New York during the past year.² He gave the appearance of proceeding in a half-apologetic manner, introducing his complaint with the remark that he was obliged to take my time to ask for relief from the unfair discriminatory restrictions to which the Batory had been subject over a long period.

He stated that he was filing this protest on instruction by his Government. He recounted the various restrictions and control measures applied to the Batory since the escape of Gerhardt Eisler in May 1949,³ stressing particularly that the Coast Guard had recently held up the vessel for six hours for inspection. Such restrictions were impeding the normal operations of the vessel and were imposing indignities on his country. It seemed quite unfair that members of the crew could not go ashore and visitors were not permitted aboard the ship.

Ambassador Winiewicz claimed that these restrictions had served as a preparation for and encouragement of the recent action of the longshoremen in refusing to unload the cargo of the Batory when it arrived in New York on September 7.⁴ It had been impossible, moreover, for the ship to take on any goods when it sailed, even medical supplies provided for Poland by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund. It had not been possible, for example, to load supplies of streptomycin on the Batory

The Ambassador deplored this state of affairs in view of the record and character of the Batory. He said that it was the only Polish passenger liner on the seas and that it had served as a link between the United States and Poland for 15 years. Although it plied between Gdynia and New York, it stopped at Copenhagen and South Wales, and 90% of its passengers were not from Poland but from foreign countries. It also carried goods from Western European countries, such as Danish hams and shipments from England, on the last voyage. The ship had a hand-picked crew and the best master Poland could find; and it was well known for its excellent accommodations and service.

Ambassador Winiewicz stated that the Polish Government therefore felt these restrictions all the more keenly and could only regard them as constituting discriminatory treatment. He declared that if these practices continued the Polish Government would be obliged to take appropriate measures. It was for this reason, he added, that it had been necessary to take my time.

I replied by discussing first the action of the longshoremen. I called attention to the fact that a private oranization, the International Longshoremen’s Association, was involved and that it had acted on its own initiative independently of this Government in initiating the boycott. As a private organization, the Longshoremen’s Association was of course not subject to the control or order of American authorities, but representatives of this Government were endeavoring to do something about the matter. I said I had talked with Secretary Tobin, who assured me that efforts were being made to improve the situation. The statement of the President made at a press conference about two weeks ago also revealed the attitude of the United States Government in wishing to see the issue settled.⁵

As to the reported restrictions applied to the Batory over the past year, I pointed out the security consideration involved and the fact that these measures were carried out under the jurisdiction of another department of the Government. I recalled to the Ambassador that I had taken some action last February to alleviate the effect of the restrictions. As a result of my consideration of the matter with the Department of Justice, some relief had been obtained, and the master and purser of the Batory were permitted to go ashore without escort.

The Ambassador demurred that this went very far in dealing with the problem, saying that there was solidarity among the crew and the master of the vessel did not consequently wish to avail himself of this privilege denied the others except in the case of absolute necessity.

I then indicated that we would take up the matter of these various restrictions and see whether something might be done.⁶

The Ambassador concluded with the statement that he lodged this protest asking for my personal intervention to end these discriminatory practices against the Polish flag, which his Government could no longer tolerate. He left after a brief visit in which he obviously endeavored to complete his business as speedily as possible.

James E. Webb

1. Harold C. Vedeler, Officer in Charge of Polish, Baltic, and Czechoslovak Affairs, Office of Eastern European Affairs, Department of State.
2. In a briefing memorandum of September 13 for Acting Secretary of State Webb in preparation for this conversation with Ambassador Winiewicz, not printed, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs James C. H. Bonbright pointed out that a number of protests had been lodged with the Department of State by the Polish Embassy during the past year against restrictions and control measures applied by American authorities to Soviet and satellite merchant ships, including the Polish passenger-cargo liner Batory. The measures included the surrounding of vessels with guards, the refusal to grant shore leave to members of ship crews, the refusal to allow ship officers ashore except under escort, the stringent interrogation of passengers, and the interrogation of officers and crews on political subjects (948.53/9–1350). During a conversation with Attorney General J. Howard McGrath and some of his advisers on April 6, Under Secretary Webb had suggested a relaxation of the control measures imposed upon the Batory; see the memorandum of conversation by Joyce, April 6, p. 292.
3. Gerhardt Eisler, apparently an important representative of the Communist International and Communist Party of the Soviet Union, was involved in the American Communist movement in the 1930’s and 1940’s. In May 1949, while-free on bail following conviction for contempt of Congress, Eisler was smuggled aboard the Batory and fled the United States. He subsequently served as a functionary in the East German Communist regime.
4. In mid-August 1950, east coast members of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) in New York began to refuse to handle cargo of Soviet and East European origin. On September 6 the Atlantic District Council of the ILA adopted a resolution formally adopting a boycott of Soviet and satellite cargos except those goods essential to the defense of the United States.
5. In a response to a question asked at his news conference on August 31, 1950, President Truman indicated his opposition to the refusal of longshoremen to unload Soviet and satellite ships, and he asserted that foreign policy was not made by any longshoremen’s union. For the text of the response, see Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Harry S. Truman, 1950 (Washington, 1965), p. 606.
6. Acting Secretary of State Webb discussed the problem with Attorney General J. Howard McGrath on September 15 and 27, and he expressed the view that the Batory was being unnecessarily harassed. The Attorney General undertook to discuss the matter with appropriate officials. On October 20 a Polish Embassy representative called at the Department of State to protest that the treatment by American authorities of the Batory when it arrived in New York on October 8 had been more severe than any previous occasion. In a letter of October 31 to Attorney General McGrath, not printed, Under Secretary of State Webb reviewed the general subject of restrictions applied to the Batory and the most recent Polish Embassy protest. In an effort to deal with the situation, Webb suggested that Batory crew members be allowed shore leave while in New York (411.4812/10–3150). In a reply received February 1, 1951, not printed, Deputy Attorney General Peyton Ford reviewed procedures followed by American immigration and customs officials and found that no unusual or unnecessary measures were taken with the arrival of the Batory on October 8, 1950 (411.4812/2–151).