220. Letter From the Secretary of State to the Secretary of Agriculture (Benson)1
Dear Ezra: The President on November 19, 1956 approved a statement of policy recommended by the National Security Council in [Page 542] regard to Poland.2 That statement of policy set forth certain courses of action to be undertaken by the United States. One course of action called on the Executive Branch to be prepared to make available at Polish request economic and technical assistance in moderate amounts sufficient to give the Poles an alternative to complete dependence on Moscow. The premise to this course of action is that the current situation with respect to Poland is not fundamentally altered.
Pursuant to the NSC statement of policy in regard to Poland as approved by the President and in accordance with the provisions of Section 107 of Public Law 480, I have determined that Poland is not now dominated or controlled by the USSR or by a foreign organization controlling the world Communist movement and hence Poland is eligible for Title I and Title III Public Law 480 transactions. The Department is informing the Chairmen of the interested Congressional committees of this determination3 as well as the recent action taken by the Council on Foreign Economic Policy to modify United States policy so as to allow surplus agricultural commodities to be exported for dollars at world market prices to Eastern European countries (except the Soviet Union) on a selective basis in the national interest.4
In making this determination, I found that the factors for and against such a decision were closely matched and that the decision itself was an extremely close one. My decision on this matter was significantly influenced by the requirements of one of the major United States policy objectives in regard to Poland, namely to provide sufficient positive incentives to induce Poland to continue to resist domination by the USSR. A reorientation and strengthening of Polish relations with the West will assist in the achievement of that objective.
It will of course be necessary for us to proceed carefully in our negotiations with the Polish Government, and to review and evaluate each specific action taken by us to assist that government in resisting domination by the USSR, before proceeding to further actions. This finding is subject to reappraisal and also we will have to keep in mind that the situation could readily change so I would feel required to alter the determination I am now making. I am confident that the staffs of our two agencies will take full account of these policy considerations as specific Public Law 480 transactions with Poland are considered.
Sincerely yours,
- Source: Department of State, EE Files: Lot 76 D 232, US/Polish Talks—Preparations. Secret. Attached to a memorandum from Kalijarvi to the Secretary dated December 27, 1956, on which the following notation appeared: “/s/JFD 1–3–57.” Drafted by the Acting Chief of the International Resources Division, William H. Bray, and concurred in by representatives of E, U/MSA, L, H, and EUR.↩
- NSC 5616/2, Document 196.↩
- See footnote 9, Document 215.↩
- See footnote 4, Ibid.↩
- Printed from a copy that bears this typed signature.↩