Office of the Historian

58. Telegram From the Embassy in Poland to the Department of State0

Warsaw, April 27, 1962, 5 p.m.

1721. Department’s A–70 and Department telegram 1392.1 Saw Under Secretary Winiewicz today and raised with him two matters mentioned in airgram. Re publicity Winiewicz indicated considerable had been given, that publicity re help from other members Communist bloc had also declined in recent years, and that because of the existence in Polish Communist Party of a hard core which opposed all PL 480 agreements with US it was difficult to publish strongly favorable articles.

With regard to matter of foreign indebtedness Winiewicz reminded me that Poland had scrupulously met all obligations to US even at height of cold war and indicated that Poland was hesitant assume further obligations which it might not be able to service.

He suggested that both matters be discussed with Trampczynski Minister Foreign Trade, when he makes his visit to US.

I doubt that anything will be done regarding either matter despite my representations but I shall endeavor to follow them up at an appropriate time.2

Cabot
  1. Source: Department of State, Central Files, 611.4841/4–2762. Confidential.↩
  2. Airgram A–70, April 14, instructed the Embassy to inform the Polish Government of continuing U.S. dissatisfaction with inadequate media treatment of P.L. 480 assistance. (Ibid., 611.48/3–1562) Regarding telegram 1392, see footnote 5, Document 57.↩
  3. In telegram 1457 to Warsaw, April 30, the Department of State reported that it would raise the questions of publicity and bonds with Trampczynski during his visit to Washington. It instructed the Embassy to continue to press both matters with the Polish Government. (Department of State, Central Files, 611.4841/4–2762)↩