125.0060C/11–1449: Telegram

The Ambassador in Poland (Gallman) to the Secretary of State

confidential

1489. Deptel 591, October 61. On October 7, and again on November 8, we took up by note with Foreign Office our desire to establish Consulate at Katowice this orally to Foreign Office officials on several occasions. We have now received note dated November 11 stating merely that matter is under consideration and that Foreign Office will not fail to inform us when decision has been reached.

As Foreign Office may delay reply indefinitely, I suggest Department give consideration to closing one of Polish Consulates in US, preferably one in industrial center, like Pittsburgh or Detroit, if by, [Page 519] say December 15, favorable reply has not been received from Polish Government.

While I believe that in long run little is to be gained by blindly applying retaliatory measures, and that in such fields as personal surveillance and travel restrictions a police state like present-day Poland can make our personnel here suffer much more than we can make Polish officials in States suffer, there are occasions when, and fields where, we can effectively strike back. The field of Consulates appears to me to be one.

Should we, on not receiving a reply to our request by December 15, or on being turned down, close one of the Polish Consulates, the Polish Government might close down “Consulate” at Poznan. That consists only, however, of two hotel rooms used chiefly when USIS officers visit there. Closing of this “Consulate” would not greatly handicap us. Only other Consulate is Gdansk and as it is of considerable convenience to Polish Government, particularly in connection with Batory,2 I doubt Polish Government would ask that it be closed.

Department’s reaction to my proposal would be very much appreciated.3

Gallman
  1. In his telegram 993, July 11, from Warsaw, not printed, Ambassador Gallman recommended the reestablishment of a consular post in southern Poland, preferably at Katowice (125.0060C/7–1149). The recommendation was considered within the Department of State in consultation with other interested government agencies. Telegram 591, October 6, to Warsaw, not printed, instructed Gallman to endeavor to obtain the approval of the Polish Government to the establishment of a consulate in Katowice (125.0060C/7–1149).
  2. The Polish liner Stephen Batory sailed regularly between Gdansk and New York.
  3. Telegram 683, November 21, to Warsaw, not printed, instructed Ambassador Gallman to again take up the question with the Polish Foreign Ministry pointing out the interest of the United States in opening a consulate in Katowice and registering surprise over the continued Polish delay in granting approval. The Department preferred to delay further consideration of possible retaliatory measures until after additional representations had been made (125.0060C/11–1449).