47. Editorial Note
Poland was discussed at the Department of State–Joint Chiefs of Staff meeting on June 27 at 10 a.m. in the Pentagon. General Nathan F. Twining, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Arleigh A. Burke, Chief of Naval Operations, and General Thomas D. White, Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, were among those representing the Joint Chiefs; Robert D. Murphy and G. Frederick Reinhardt headed the Department of State contingent. Robert Amory, Deputy Director of Intelligence of the Central Intelligence Agency, and S. Everett Gleason, Deputy Executive Secretary of the National Security Council, also attended the meeting. A Department of State summary of the substance of the discussions, which was not cleared with the Department of Defense, reports the following:
“Mr. Amory said that Allen Dulles desired the Joint Chiefs to be aware of the build-up of pressure on Gomulka in Poland. It would be unlikely that the Poles would bow before Soviet pressure. A greater danger of conflict exists in Poland than in the Middle East, in the view of CIA.
“Admiral Burke asked whether the Poles would accept assistance. Mr. Amory replied that if the Soviets attacked Poland, the Poles would probably count on disorder in East Germany despite the presence of large Soviet forces there.
“General White said that a paper should be prepared regarding the danger of conflict in Poland and the counter-measures which the United States might take. Mr. Amory noted that the NSC policy paper does not really meet this problem.
“In reply to Admiral Burke’s question, Mr. Amory said that the Soviets have been cutting down on delivery of spare parts and ammunition to Poland; Polish reserve supplies are probably low. Mr. Amory noted that Gomulka and the Polish Army Command have largely cleaned out the pro-Rokosovski elements from the Army and therefore pro-Soviet sympathizers in the Polish Army would be few,
“Admiral Burke said he thought the United States should get together a military assistance package for possible use in Poland.” (Department of State, State–JCS Meetings: Lot 61 D 417, Vol. VI)
No record has been found in Department of State files of any followup on General White’s suggestion that a paper be prepared on the dangers of a conflict in Poland or of Admiral Burke’s suggestion that a military assistance package be put together for possible use in Poland.