Foreign Relations of the United States, 1946, Eastern Europe, The Soviet Union, Volume VI

124.60C/6–446: Telegram

The Acting Secretary of State to the Ambassador in Poland (Lane)

secret
us urgent

Washington, June 20, 1946—11 p.m.

557. In response to suggestion outlined urtel 821 June 4⁶² you are authorized to present note to FonOff along following lines:

“US Gov is greatly disturbed by reports from Am Emb at Warsaw that Pol employees of Emb are being subjected to intimidation by Pol Security Police for purpose of obtaining info re Emb activities. It” appears that these employees have been threatened if they refused to agree to furnish such info to Police. Pol Gov will certainly agree that this regrettable practice is highly improper and is inadmissible in conduct of relations between friendly states.

US Gov has felt that continuation of such reprehensible activities could not fail to have detrimental effect on relations between two countries and accordingly matter was brought orally to attention of Vice Minister Modzelewski on May 4. It was pointed out at that time that Emb carried on no activities which it desired to keep from Pol Gov. Unfortunately Security Police activities referred to have continued despite these representations. US Gov must register vigorous objection to this practice and requests that Pol Gov take appropriate steps to cause its discontinuance.”⁶³

Dept desires that no publicity be given to these representations at this time but you should report promptly any instances of pressure on the Pol staff subsequent to presentation of your note.

Acheson

62. Not printed; it reported that the Polish Security Police were continuing to intimidate members of the Embassy staff in an effort to obtain information on Embassy activities and suggested substance of a first-person note of protest to be presented to the Polish Foreign Office (124.60C/6–446).
63. Telegram 964, June 26, from Warsaw, reported delivery of the note quoted herein (124.60C/8–2646). For Ambassador Lane’s account of his meeting with the Director of the Political Department of the Polish Foreign Ministry on the occasion of the delivery of this note, see Lane, I Saw Poland Betrayed, p. 200.