840.48 Refugees/9–646: Telegram
The Ambassador in Poland (Lane) to the Secretary of State
[Received 4:45 p.m.]
1361. Informed Acting Foreign Minister Olszewski September 5 of facts regarding recent emigration Polish Jews into Austria as reported in telegram 22, September 3, 7 p.m. from Vienna8a and repeated recommendation previously made that Polish Jews be resettled in Lower Silesia as to avoid any further hardships which are caused by emigration to Austria.
Olszewski said that it is Polish Government policy to settle Polish Jews Lower Silesia and to include them in plans for industrial and agricultural reconstruction of country. He said that he had already instructed Polish representative Mantel in Vienna to consult General Clark.
[Page 187]Olszewski’s statement is not entirely consistent with views expressed by Premier and Wrzos as to resettling of Polish Jews in Lower Silesia and I cannot escape the belief that the Polish Government has intentionally allowed the wholesale illegal departure of Polish Jews to American zones in Austria and Germany. Furthermore because of Government’s evident hesitancy to antagonize Polish Jews who according to reliable sources are almost unanimous in desire to leave Poland very much doubt whether Polish Provisional Government will take effective steps to prevent or curtail the exodus.9
Sent to Vienna as 28, repeated to Department as 1361, to Berlin as 210, to Prague as 50.
- Same as telegram 1199, supra.↩
- Telegram 1586, October 10, from Warsaw, reported on a subsequent discussion with Mr. Bein wherein the latter stated his belief that the Jewish exodus from Poland had reached a virtual standstill temporarily, but that, if for reasons of security the Jews felt it urgent to leave, they would not be deterred by warnings of poor living conditions in the United States zone in Germany (840.48 Refugees/10–1046).↩