36. Memorandum of a Conversation Between the Polish Ambassador (Spasowski) and the Deputy Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (Murphy), Department of State, Washington, November 7, 1955, 4:30 p.m.1
SUBJECT
- Polish Repatriation
In accordance with the appointment previously arranged at his request the Polish Ambassador called at 4:30 to discuss the subject of Polish repatriation.
The Ambassador began by reading a statement to the effect that the Polish Government has long desired the return of Poles living abroad and in recent months has been making special efforts to achieve their repatriation. He expressed the hope that the United States would take “a positive attitude” towards Polish repatriation and said he would be interested in any comments or views we might wish to express.
Mr. Murphy said that he was not sure of the purpose of the Polish Government’s repatriation program and asked whether it was intended to augment Poland’s labor supply. Spasowski replied that the question of labor supply was involved but that, more important than that, his Government wanted Poles to participate in all fields of Polish national life. “Poles belong in Poland,” he added. Mr. Murphy asked “Why?”. The Ambassador said that he thought it was only natural that Poles should live in Poland. Mr. Murphy pointed out that thousands of Americans live in Paris alone, and are found in large numbers in many other places throughout the world, and that this Government does not feel constrained to try to bring them back. The Ambassador made some vague references to the dispersal of many Poles abroad as a result of the last war.
The Ambassador then repeated his request for “a positive attitude” on the part of American authorities. Mr. Murphy replied that this Government traditionally has held the view that people should be allowed to live where they wish and that we feel any repatriation to Poland should be voluntary. The Ambassador immediately agreed that his Government was also opposed to involuntary repatriation but added that he hoped the local American authorities would take a “positive attitude” toward voluntary repatriation. Mr. Murphy inquired what the Ambassador meant by a “positive attitude” and exactly which “local authorities” he had in mind. The Ambassador was not specific on the first point but explained that our immigration [Page 97] officials would be an example of local authorities in this case. Mr. Murphy said that it seemed to him that, in effect, Mr. Spasowski was in favor of involuntary repatriation and wanted our immigration authorities to suggest to Poles that they return home. He added that we would do no such thing. The Ambassador denied that that was his aim. Mr. Murphy then asked whether the Ambassador had any specific complaints with respect to American officials. The Ambassador said that he thought that prior to his arrival in this country the immigration authorities might have discouraged some persons from returning to Poland. Mr. Murphy asked him for specific examples of such cases. When the Ambassador was not able to cite any examples Mr. Murphy remarked that it was pointless to make charges if they could not be substantiated unless the only purpose of the Ambassador’s visit was propaganda, in which case it was a waste of time for all concerned.
After a considerable pause the Ambassador said that he would at least like to have this Government’s “assurances” that our local officials would not “discourage” repatriation to Poland.2 Mr. Murphy replied that he did not understand what the Ambassador meant by “assurances” and that his purpose in making such a request was not clear. He repeated that if the Polish Ambassador had any complaints he should be specific about them.
The Ambassador finally said that he understood our position. Mr. Murphy answered that unfortunately he did not understand the Ambassador’s position nor the purpose of his visit.
The Ambassador left after a brief discussion concerning the visa application of the Polish pianist, Mrs. Czerny-Stefanska, who wishes to give several concerts in the United States.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 748.00/11–755. Confidential. Drafted by George T. Lister.↩
- Ambassador Spasowski was called in to Murphy’s office on April 30, 1956, and handed a note reaffirming the U.S. Government’s adherence to the principle of voluntary repatriation and its recognition of the right of members of a foreign diplomatic mission to normal access to its citizens, but making it clear that the United States would not tolerate unsolicited personal visits by Polish diplomatic officials to Polish émigrés and persons of Polish nationality in the United States. Such visits, the Department charged, were part of an extensive Soviet Bloc campaign of repatriation. The memorandum of discussion by Trivers (EE), April 30, 1956, is ibid., 748.00/4–3056. A memorandum from Beam to Murphy, April 17, 1956, proposing a note and suggesting a text (on which Murphy made revisions) is ibid., 848.181/4–1756. The note and accompanying announcement, also April 30, 1956, are printed in Department of State Bulletin, May 14, 1956, p. 803.↩