860C.51/4–2146: Telegram
The Ambassador in Poland (Lane) to the Secretary of State
most immediate
[Received 1:37 p.m.]
553. Personal for the Secretary. Deptels 328 and 329 April 18.22 I am very much concerned over Department’s apparent intention to grant credits on basis of Polish proposal. Lack of good faith of present Polish ruling clique has been so clearly shown on so many occasions that acceptance of their promises whether verbal or written would in my opinion imply a lack of understanding on our part of entire situation and would be greatest possible discouragement to Polish people which still retains hope that US will maintain firm attitude. I am likewise much disturbed by Dept’s 317, April 15, indicating a confidence in Stanczyk’s statements which in my opinion is not justified on the basis of his known unreliability.
On my urging British Ambassador is returning from Krakow today to consult with me on instructions which he has received re joint representation. I should have preferred not to have made representations April 19 during absence of Cavendish-Bentinck but in view of Dept’s having stressed urgency I took unilateral action which [Page 432] may surprise British with whom until now I have consulted on every phase of our commitments under Yalta and Potsdam decisions.
With the greatest earnestness of which I am capable I beg the Department not to approve the extension of any credit facilities at this time. When the terroristic activities of the security police come to an end, when freedom of the press is restored and when American citizens are released from Polish prisons then and not until then should US public funds be used to assist the Polish Provisional Govt of national unity.
- Neither printed; they concerned the notes which would be exchanged between the Polish Embassy and the Department of State on April 24 concluding the negotiations for an Export-Import Bank credit to Poland (860C.51/4–1846). For texts of notes, see Department of State Bulletin, May 5, 1946, pp. 761–762.↩