860c.00/7–2445: Telegram
No. 1138
The Ambassador in the United
Kingdom (Winant) to the Acting Secretary of
State1
7445. Sir Orme Sargent has shown us two most recent messages received from Hankey from Warsaw. The picture of prevailing conditions is not as favorable as reported in Hankey’s first message (Embassy’s 7269, July 19, 5 p.m.).2 Mikołajczyk, furthermore, is no longer optimistic about participation of all major parties in elections.
Hankey found Mik[ołajczyk] very disturbed over decision of Polish Govt not to allow Popiel to organize a rally of Christian Labor Party and over words [sic] sent to Popiel that Christian Labor Party would not be permitted to take part in election. Mik feels that if at this early date it is decided that Christian Labor Party is not to participate in elections during coming weeks same decision may well be reached effecting [affecting] other parties.
Hankey has had a talk with Grabski. Grabski maintains that practically no civic liberties are enjoyed by people of Poland. Behind every local govt there is a Soviet official who has final word. A secret service under Soviet direction is active everywhere and many arrests continue to be made.
When showing us these messages from Hankey, Sargent told us that he had just received a message “privately” from Mik in which [Page 1131] Mik said that he was alarmed at the tendency of the Lublin group on the Praesidium to transform the Praesidium on which Grabski is outnumbered five to one into the real governing body of Poland.
Sent Dept as 7445; repeated Moscow as 263.
- The gist of this message was included in telegram No. 126 of July 25 from Grew to Byrnes (file No. 800.00 Summaries/7–2545).↩
- Document No. 1122.↩