83. Telegram From the Embassy in Poland to the Department of State0
404. I am seriously disturbed by information received by our military attache that basic decision has been reached in Washington to require prior notification and permission and detailed itineraries for all travel in US by satellite attaches. Others are obviously better qualified than I to comment on military advantages and disadvantages of proposed move. Nevertheless, given Poland’s geographic position and relative liberty to travel our attaches now enjoy, I question whether imposition of proposed regulations (which will probably be imposed reciprocally on our attaches) will be to our net advantage. At time of Cuba crisis last year, it was surely of vital importance to Washington to know that we observed no evidence of unusual military traffic across Poland. If satellite attache aware [were?] barred from relatively smaller areas, I question whether Poles would retaliate since they bar our attaches from small areas, but provised [provisory?] regulations are another matter. Also this seems to me poor time to make another move which Poles can only consider inimical. It will probably be taken as evidence we have changed our basic policy towards Poland and may precipitate descending spiral which I have heard [feared?]. I suggest Department take this up with DOD to be sure at least that they have considered adequately unfortunate repercussions which this move would almost certainly precipitate in Poland.
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, POL 17 Pol–US. Secret.↩