FOREIGN RELATIONS, 1 946, VOLUME VI



ing claimants to American citizenship who have been arrested during
past 6 months and requesting a prompt reply in the premises.
  You may in your discretion refer again to Modzelewski's oral state-
ment made on October 19 that officers of Emh would be permitted
to interview all persons claiming American citizenship who are held
under arrest by Polish authorities. You may point out that US Govt
is greatly concerned over treatment aeccorded American citizens held
by Polish authorities and that it fails to understand Polish Govt's
refusal to accord to those individuals privileges provided by Polish
American treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Consular Rights.
This Govt is particularly concerned over reports that American iden-
tifying documents held by such claimants to American citizenship have
in some cases been confiscated by Pol authorities. You may say that
this Govt attaches greatest importance to receipt of a prompt reply
from PolGov and a prompt. implementation of provisions of the treaty
cited. You may also state that if within a reasonable period of time
I1o satisfaction is received from PolGov, US Govt will be forced to
give consideration to the issuance of a, public statement regarding
extraordinary treatment being accorded American citizens by Pol
Prov Govt. A draft statement will be transmitted for Emb's com-
ments before publication.
  As you know Dept is endeavoring to arrange for repatriation of
American citizens in Poland and hopes that those American citizens
who are regarded by PolGov as unsatisfactory from a political stand-
point may be repatriated at an early date. It is hoped that the initial
group of American citizens can leave Poland in time to board a vessel
sailing front Sweden first part of May and that a. minimum of 200 per-
sons per month can be shipped via Sweden until such time as more
extensive repatriation facilities can be arranged. You are authorized
to bring the above to the attention of Pol FonOff also if you think it
necessary to do SO.84
                                                           BYRNES
860C.24/3-1446: Telegram
    The Ambassador in Poland (Lane) to the Secretary of State

SECRET                            WARSAW, March 14, 1946-3 p. m.
MOST IMMEDIATE                    [Received March 15-5: 53 p. m.]
  353. Deptel 168, March 8, 2 p. m. I am grateful to the Dept for
clarifying the situation with respect to the Export Import Bank credit

  84 In telegram 395, March 21, from Warsaw, Ambassador Lane reported the
delivery of a note to the Foreign Ministry on March 20 in pursuance of his
instructions. At the time of the delivery of the note, Foreign Minister Rzymowski
observed that the real difficulty was in determining how many of the claimants
of
American citizenship had subsequently acquired Polish citizenship. (360C.-
1121/3-2146)



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