Foreign Relations of the United States, 1947, Eastern Europe; The Soviet Union, Volume IV

860C.00/11–2147: Telegram

The Ambassador in Poland (Griffis) to the Acting Secretary of State

top secret

Warsaw, November 21, 1947—noon.

1898. For Lovett. In continuation my 1897, November 21, Foreign Minister after having handed me note, proceeded orally to state that Polish Govt had evidence that Andrews and Blake conferred with Mikolajczyk on several occasions between October 17 and 19 and that Mikolajczyk escaped by use of an American car. He went on to refer to statement allegedly made by an unidentified American source in Germany and published in New York Times that there was a group of Americans organized for purpose of smuggling Polish scientists and others out of Poland. He took occasion also to refer to American press and radio statements and insinuations that Mikolajczyk had been secretly arrested by Polish authorities, that his life was in danger or that he had been murdered. He brought this part of his remarks to a close by stating that a number of persons saw Mikolajczyk get into an American car on day of his escape.

I asked immediately for evidence of the use of American car and further information as to when and where Mikolajczyk got into the car and where it was supposed to have taken him. The Foreign Minister stated that they expected to have this evidence shortly and would transmit it to me at the proper time. I expressed strong anger and resentment that I should be asked to withdraw Mr. Blake on such flimsy evidence as had been produced, insisted that the note was merely one more instance of blaming all evils in Poland on the US and the American Embassy, that no official of the Embassy had broken any Polish law and that I admitted none of the accusations and regarded the whole matter as simply another insult in the long line of attacks by the Polish press and Ministers of the Polish Govt. The Foreign Minister refused to withdraw the note and I left after an hour and a quarter of discussion.

Yesterday, Thursday November 20 I requested another audience with the Foreign Minister and was met by the same group at 2:30. I outlined the policies favorable to Poland which this Embassy carried out through my administration. I gave them my personal word that contrary to some accusations which have been made, this Embassy had at no time contributed money to Mikolajczyk or his party, that there existed in Poland no American organization for smuggling persons out of the country, that no member of this Embassy had violated Polish law in the matter. I called attention to the seriousness of the world situation, to the opening of the Ministers’ Conference in London,¹ to the fact that no useful purpose could be served through their note or the consequent certain publicity attending it. I stated that it might be the beginning of drawing this Embassy and the Polish Govt into a position of antagonism from which the Polish Govt might find it difficult to extricate itself. I accordingly again urged that the Polish Govt withdraw its note declaring Mr. Blake persona non grata upon my agreement to recommend to the State Dept that, as his tour of duty was nearly over in any event, he should be transferred in the “reasonably immediate future” and that if this suggestion was accepted, other govts should agree that the entire episode would be kept confidential and that no attacks or implications of US involvement should be made if, as, and when the three people now under arrest were tried.

I further stated that whatever Mr. Blake and/or Mr. Andrews had done or not done, the responsibility was that of the Ambassador and that an attack on them was equally an attack on me.

After a long argument Foreign Minister agreed to withdraw the note and agreed to the various suggestions made subject to my arranging the transfer of Mr. Blake which I now propose to the Dept.²

We have given you by cable substantially no information regarding our direct knowledge of any events in connection with the Mikolajczyk case. We assume that as result of the visit of Mr. Andrews, you are familiar with such knowledge as we have. If not, I will cable it upon your request. It is my personal belief that the Polish Govt has no evidence except that presented by testimony of the three Poles arrested in Czechoslovakia i. e., that Andrews and Blake conferred with Mikolajczyk in his apartment on various occasions between October 17 and 19.

As stated above I herewith recommend the transfer of Mr. Blake from Warsaw,³ carrying with it the highest recommendations of courage, ability and integrity that any Ambassador could possibly give to a Foreign Service Officer and with my request that he be given such promotion and choice of post as seem to be consistent with the justice of the situation and my previous recommendations to Ravndal.⁴

Griffis

1. Reference here is to the Fifth Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers, November 25–December 15, in London.
2. The understanding described here was the subject of an exchange of letters between Ambassador Griffis and Foreign Minister Modzelewski, both dated November 21, the texts of which were transmitted to the Department as enclosures to despatch 426, November 26, from Warsaw, none printed (860C.00/11–2647).
3. The Department approved Blake’s transfer to the Embassy in Rome for which place he departed from Warsaw on December 9.
4. Christian M. Ravndal, Director General of the United States Foreign Service.