840.50 UNRRA/8–746: Telegram
The Vice Consul at Geneva (Havron) to the Secretary of State
us urgent
niact
[Received August 9—3:40 p.m.]
112. To Hilldring from Clayton.89 Independent observations by Wood and Fierst in United States zones of Germany and Austria have led to conclusion that our military authorities are not adhering to [Page 177] United States Government policy with respect to London Poles.90 Most of London Poles have lately been deprived of official status as repatriation liaison officers but there is no doubt that through support and friendship of United States military they are still exerting considerable influence. This is certain to be a cause of continuing embarrassment to the United States Government and exerts a retarding influence on repatriation of Polish displaced persons. Undoubtedly Warsaw Government has been lax and perhaps even uncooperative in providing effective liaison officers in adequate numbers. However, United States will be blamed in large measure for ineffectiveness of Warsaw Polish Liaison officers and non-repatriation of large number of Poles as long as our military authorities maintain present unfriendly attitude toward Warsaw Poles in contrast to friendly attitude toward London Poles. Among reasons informally advanced by military authorities for their present attitude are that G–2 desires number of Warsaw Poles kept to a minimum and their activities be severely circumscribed; that London Poles are useful for welfare work among non-repatriable Poles; and that attitude of State Department as conveyed to them informally by Colonel Tony Biddle91 was that elimination of influence London Poles should not be pressed. There was considerable doubt in minds of military authorities as to whether United States Government really meant that UNRRA resolution 9292 should be completely implemented with respect to London Poles.
US delegation introduced and sponsored Resolution 92 and there should be no question as to our intention to implement it 100%. Accordingly, I believe that it would be highly desirable for a directive along the following lines to be transmitted immediately to our military authorities in Germany and Austria:
“It is the policy of the US Government to eliminate any influence exerted in U.S. zones of Germany and Austria by officials of the former London Polish Government in exile. Accordingly, you are directed to take such steps as may be necessary immediately to remove all London Poles from positions of influence in displaced persons camps or with respect to displaced persons; to deny them access to camps; to refrain from using them on any military staffs; and to deprive them of any official status whatsoever. You will immediately extend an invitation to representatives of the recognized Polish Government to provide substantial number of liaison and welfare officers adequate to the task of promoting maximum possible repatriation and you will furnish adequate facilities for them. You will report any instance of [Page 178] failure of the Polish Government to provide adequate officials upon your request and also any instances of misconduct or lack of cooperation on the part of Polish representatives in your zone”.
I hope that such a directive may be sent to the military authorities during the next few days. Please keep me informed as to status of this subject as it will have an important bearing upon discussions at this Council meeting as well as upon future policy in Germany and Austria. [Clayton.]
- Assistant Secretary Clayton headed the U.S. delegation at the 5th UNRRA Council session.↩
- Reference is to the Polish Government in Exile. For documentation on United States interest in the establishment of a Polish Government of National Unity, see Foreign Relations, 1945, vol. v, pp. 110 ff.↩
- Col. Anthony J. Drexel Biddle, Jr., Chief, Allied Contact Section, Headquarters, USFET.↩
- For text, see Woodbridge, UNRRA, vol. iii, p. 155.↩