Foreign Relations of the United States, 1958–1960, Eastern Europe; Finland; Greece; Turkey, Volume X, Part 2

99. Operations Coordinating Board Report⁰

Washington, March 30, 1960.

REPORT ON POLAND (NSC 5808/1)¹

(Approved by the President April 16, 1958)

(Period Covered: February 11, 1959 through March 30, 1960)

1. Summary Evaluation. The Gomulka regime has continued important aspects of its program which represent significant deviations from normal Soviet bloc policies,² and has in general shown a willingness to maintain the closer relations with the West established after October, 1956; however, there appear to be few prospects at present for the development of new channels for the implementation of U.S. policy toward Poland, and our operations in recent months have been primarily of a nature designed to preserve as many past gains as possible and to keep the door open for the exercise of as much Western influence as feasible. The objectives outlined in the policy paper remain valid.

2. Stricter Central Controls. In recent months the Polish government has, however, taken steps to provide for (and in some instances to apply) stricter central controls in the economic and cultural sectors which, if applied effectively, could in the long run significantly diminish the extent of Poland’s divergence from the bloc. These steps have not produced fundamental shifts in Polish domestic policies and it is too early to evaluate their long-term significance.

3. U.S.-Polish Relations. Vice President Nixon’s visit to Poland in August, and visits of other high ranking officials, were indicative of the improvement in U.S.-Polish relations in recent years. This visit afforded the opportunity for the first direct exchange of views between high U.S. officials and Gomulka.

4. Also indicative of improved relations is the substantial progress made toward settlement of nationalization claims. Although it may be several weeks before a formal agreement can be signed, oral agreement has already been reached on the major issue, namely, the lump-sum figure to be paid by Poland.

5. Orienting Poland Toward the West. The United States has continued to promote the development and expansion of contacts and exchanges between Poland and the West, particularly in the economic and cultural spheres. A key element in this respect is the economic assistance which the United States has made available to Poland (1957–$95 million, 1958–$98 million, 1959–$103.3 million).

6. Policy Review. The agencies represented in the Working Group on Poland have reappraised the validity and evaluated the implementation of the U.S. policy toward Poland (NSC 5808/1) in the light of operating experience and believe there is no need for the National Security Council to review the policy at this time, and that there are no developments of such significance as to warrant sending a report to the National Council.

0. Source: Department of State, OCB Files: Lot 61 D 385, Poland Documents. Secret. A cover sheet and an undated covering memorandum by Bromley Smith are not printed. Smith wrote that the OCB on March 30 concurred in the Working Group’s judgment that U.S. policy on Poland continued to be valid and that there were no developments of such significance to warrant a review of the policy by the NSC or a report to the NSC.
1. Document 46.
2. Past gains which have been maintained are: no forced collectivization of agriculture; regime accommodation with the Roman Catholic Church; curbs on the use of the secret police as a political weapon; relative academic freedom and freedom of speech; and relatively friendly relations between the Polish and U.S. governments. [Footnote in the source text.]