Foreign Relations of the United States, 1952–1954, Eastern Europe; Soviet Union; Eastern Mediterranean, Volume VIII

761.00/7–753: Telegram

No. 36
The Ambassador in Poland (Flack) to the Department of State

secret

Warsaw, July 7, 1953—4 p.m.

10. Re Deptel 2, July 6.¹

1. Extensive travel and general observation officers this and other Western missions give no indication normal discontent has taken bolder or overt form. Despite flood rumors outside Poland re disturbances here, no confirmation whatsoever these rumors within Poland. Embassy unaware source these rumors, seemingly baseless, beyond Polish allegation they first printed Berlin Telegraf (Embtels 6 and 7, July 6²).

2. In economic field, continuing regime pressure for higher production norms meets some worker resentment, but no indication this has taken violent, organized or other than sporadic form. Nothing of character to cause modification regime plans. Food supplies adequate and despite high prices limiting purchasing power at present income levels, population able obtain minimum needs. Observations suggest forthcoming harvest will be good. Preliminary regime statistics important segments industry (full half-year report not yet published) indicate production plans being fulfilled.

3. No suggestion any change in basic regime plans and Sovietization apparently continuing:

a. Increasing pressure on church despite firm stand taken by hierarchy (Embdes 481, June 30³).

b. Pressure for agricultural collectivization continues. Tempo first three months current year at record high with average monthly increase 700. April–May increase average 300 monthly. Although some decline in rate organization new collectives in spring compared winter months, this believed due normal causes and not indicative any relaxation regime drive.

c. Increasing virulence anti-American expressions press after lull in April, although present level vituperation not quite that of period immediately before Stalin’s death.

4. While Embassy cannot discount possibility overall Soviet orbit policies may lead to change in regime policy here, no present reason to believe this will come from Polish internal factors. Parallelism developments Poland other countries orbit not always complete. For example, amnesty in Poland effective November 22, 1952 (Embdes 232, December 11⁴) prior Stalin’s death unlike other orbit countries.

Flack

1. Printed as telegram 4 to Praha, Document 34.
2. Telegram 6 reported the receipt in Warsaw of Western radio reports of unrest in Poland (748.00/7–653); telegram 7 summarized a satirical article in Tribuna Ludu in response to these reports (511.4841/7–653).
3. Despatch 481 transmitted a copy of a letter of protest, dated May 8, from the Polish Episcopate to the Polish Council of Ministers. (848.413/6–3053)
4. Despatch 232 reported that there was nothing in the Polish amnesty proclamation of Nov. 22 to suggest that the motive for it was the creation of a government-controlled labor force. (748.00/12–1152)