Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, 1944, The British Commonwealth and Europe, Volume III

860C.012/7–644: Telegram

The Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Harriman) to the Secretary of State

Moscow, July 6, 1944.
[Received July 6—4:50 p.m.]

2452. The Gazette of the Supreme Soviet of June 30 published a decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet dated June 22 which reads in translation as follows:

“Regarding the rights to take on Polish citizenship for members of the Polish Army in the USSR and persons assisting it in the struggle for the liberation of Poland, and also for members of their families.

1. It is established, as a special exception to the operation of the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR concerning the acquisition of USSR citizenship by inhabitants of the Western oblasts of the Ukrainian and Belo-Russian Soviet Socialist Republics dated November 29, 1939,³⁷ as well as in relation to Soviet citizens of Polish nationality of other oblasts of the USSR, that those of them who are members of the Polish Army in the USSR or were previously in its ranks and also persons actively assisting the Polish Army [in?] liberation of Poland from the German Fascist aggressors, have the right to take on Polish citizenship. Such a right is also accorded to members of the families of members of the Polish Army in the USSR and of the aforementioned persons who are rendering assistance to the Polish Army in the USSR.

2. The citizenship of children who have not reached the age of 14 is correspondingly determined by the selection of citizenship by the parents. All children between the ages of 14 and 18 have the right of independent selection of citizenship. In case the parents choose different citizenship, the citizenship of children who have not reached the age of 14 years is determined by an agreement of the parents, but in the absence of such an agreement, citizenship is dependent on the territory of either of the governments on which the minor children shall live.

3. Declarations regarding the desire to take on Polish citizenship shall be submitted to the Commission of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on examination of questions of acceptance, renunciation, and laws of Soviet citizens, directly or through the command of the Polish Army in the USSR, representatives of the Union of Polish Patriots³⁸ in the USSR being on the Commission.”

Harriman

37. See Foreign Relations, 1941, vol. i, p. 210, footnote 16.
38. An organization of Poles sympathetic to Communism constituted within the Soviet Union about May 8, 1943, which had held its first Congress in Moscow on June 8, 1943.