860C.00/12–2145: Telegram
The Ambassador in Poland (Lane) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 23—5:15 p.m.]
700. [To Berlin:] Urtel No. 110, December 13, 11 p.m. repeated to Department as 1255.15 Although Polish Government both publicly and in private conversations with me has emphasized its desire that Polish Army abroad should return I am firmly of the opinion that such is not the case. My opinion which coincides with that of my British colleague is based on continual obstacles which Polish Government is placing on the return of Polish Army in UK and the [Page 434] complaints which they have made regarding the manner in which small numbers of Polish troops in Italy have been returned to Poland.
As to the troops in UK 23,000 have volunteered to return to Poland and shipping space has been furnished by British Government. Note written by British Ambassador to Foreign Minister over 2 weeks ago was not answered; therefore, Bevin took up matter with Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs Modzelewski now in London. Bentinck tells me that this conference brought no definite results. Bentinck informs me in strict confidence that British Government now intends to ship 23,000 to Gdynia and will disembark them there whether Polish Government is willing or not. As to troops in Italy Marshal Zymierski said to me that they will be returned on his terms and not on those of General Anders or the British Government.
It is evident to me from the foregoing and from remarks which have been made to me by high personages in the Polish Peasant Party that Government does not desire these troops who may be unfriendly to the present regime in Poland before and during the elections.
Sent to Berlin as 165 repeated Department as 700 to London as 87 and Moscow as 106.
- Not printed; it reported that the immediate families of Polish soldiers in Italy and Germany were fleeing Poland where they were in constant fear of arrest and deportation because members of their families were among the unrepatriated Polish troops; Berlin asked for information regarding the attitude of the Polish Provisional Government towards such emigration as well as with regard to the repatriation of Polish military units in Europe (860C.01/12–1345).↩