LETTER TO HON. ALLAN W. DULLES FROM FELIX F. BURANT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80R01731R000200050164-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 21
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 9, 2003
• Sequence Number: 164
• Publication Date: March 13, 1959
• Content Type: LETTER

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IMMIGRATION RELIEF COMMI
& (Polski Komitet Imigracyjny)
25 ST. MARKS PLACE, NEW YORK 3, N. Y.
Board of Trustees & Officers.
Rt. Rev. Msgr. F. F. Burant
President
W. Zachariasiewicz
Executive Vice-President
Z. Dattner, Vice-President
C. Durska, Vice-President
A. Gordon, Vice-President
Rev. L. Hak, Vice-President
H.K. Janiewicz, Vice-President
F. Jarzcbowska, Vice-President
Atty. S. Obremski, Vice-President
F. Poplawski. Treasurer
T. Sztybel, Secretary
E. Witanowski, Financial Secretary
Judge W.J. Bayer
Rt. Rev. Msgr. J.S. Felczak
T. Giergielewicz
A. Jaikiewicz
A.M. KIemp
S.J. Kopycitiski
E.P. Koimor
Rev. G. Kubec
1. Morawski
W. Pilch-Pilat
Any. St. Rutkowski
Atty. F.J. Wazeter
J. Wcgrzynek
Advisory Council:
F. Bara
B. Bekisz
M. Bobifiski
H. Bud`ney
J. Dec
1. Gaza
S. Gierat
W. Golaski
K. Jarzgbowski
E. Kosowicz
J. Krowicki
E. Kurtnel
K. Kuty
T. Maksymowicz
Rev. L. Makulec
L.V. Malanowski
G. May
M. Michalski
Rev. J. Mickun
S. P. Mierzwa
Rev. M. Mrozifiski
I. Nurkiewicz
L. Obierek
W. Ochrymowicz
A. Pachucki
Atty. A. Poczgtek
F. Proch
W. Sobierajski
K. Szablowski
S. Umowski
J. Weglewski
F. Wesolowska
Atty. Ch. Wilowski
A. Zakrzewski
Atty. H.M. Zaleski
E. Zima
? Overseas
Tel. ALgonquin 4-2240 Representatives:
4-2531 BRUSSELS
March 13, 1959
The Hon. Allan W. Dulles, Director
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D. C.
FRANKFURT/M
HAMBURG
NCRNBERG
MUNICH
SALZBURG
VIENNA
We enclose herewith a Memorandum on deportation of Polish refu-
gees, who having been granted by the Immigration and Naturalization
Service stays of deportation for an indefinite period, on the ground
that they would suffer physical persecution, have now been advised
of revocation of the present stays and are faced with deportation to
Poland. The refugees in question have been informed that "information
now available to this Service indicates a changed political situation
in Poland necessitating reconsideration of the alien's application
for stay of deportation."
However, as shown in the enclosed Memorandum, the political situ-
ation in Poland has not changed essentially and obviously it cannot
change as long as there is in power the same Communist regime.
The refugees who at their hearings by the Immigration and Natural-
ization Service clearly defined their hostile attitude towards the
Communist regime, are in deadly fear of deportation to Poland.
It has been a source of pride that political exiles might receive
shelter in the United States and we, therefore, appeal to you, Sir,
most earnestly to use your influence to restrain the arbitrary change
of policy which will be contrary to the American principle of assist-
ing victims of political oppression.
Although the number of people is not very substantial, the princi-
ple involved is important and there is no justification for deporta-
tion of these people to Poland.
Hoping to hear from you in a near future,
DOCUMENT NO.
NO CHANCE IN CLASS
^ O14t.ASSIFIED
CLASS, CHANOTi TO.
NEXT FL'VJEW DATEi
AUTH. N$ 10,2
DATE
I am, Sir,,,,
(Rt`. Rev. 4sgr.) EPelix P. Burant,
,f`wosr r'1 r?4< ,%J , r,
Registered with the Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid-Department of State
ed For 9 'a t i F3thC39 dPNtQA7,311 R000200050164-8
A contributions are deductible for income tax purposes
STAT
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New York, March 12, :1959
U.S. and post- It is well known that the political changes which
war refugee
problem took place in Poland, as well as in other Eastern Euro-
pean countries after World War II, resulted in vast dis-
placements for millions of people who, dislocated by the
war, refused to return to their native lands which were
now Communist dominated; or who, at the greatest personal
risk, were later able to escape from these countries.The
United States recognized that Communism was synonymous
with the deprivation of human rights and, with its long
tradition as a haven for the oppressed, took cognizance
of the plight of these refugees, enacting several laws
to permit their entry, the Displaced Persons Act, the Re-
fugee Relief Act, a bill for Hungarian escapees, and other
bits of legislation still on our statute books. It gave
permanent recognition to the plight of refugees from Com-
munist countries in the basic immigration law of 1952 by
providing in Section C,43(h) that "The Attorney General is
authorized to withhold deportation of any alien within the
United States to any country in which in his opinion the
alien would be subject to physical persecution and for
such period of time as he deems to be necessary for such
reason"" .
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New orders
of deport-
ation to
Poland
Recently, the United States Immigration and Naturalization
Service has notified a number of Poles who had entered the
United States without proper papers, or had entered with proper
visas as refugees and suffered mental breakdowns in the United
States that the s t a y o f d e p o r t a t i o n p r e-
v i o u s 1 y g r a n t e d t o t h e m after proceed-
ings under Section 243(h), Immigration and 'fationality Act,
w a s r e v o k e d a n d t h a t t h e proceed -
n g s w 1 1 1 b e r e op e n e d, because "i o f o r m-
a t i o n a v a i 1 a b 1 e i n d i c a t e s a c h a n-
g e d p o l i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n i n P o l a n d
n e c e s s i t a t i n g r e c o n s i d e.r a t i o n o f
t h e a l i e n s I a p p l i c a t i o n f o r s t a y
o f d o p o r t a t i o n". In some cases, after discontinuing
the stay which previously had been granted because of persecuti-
on, deportation orders were actually carried out.
In reopened proceedings, some of them dormant for many
years, the aliens are informed that they will be "furnished a
further opportunity to testify and submit any available evidence
they may have, to support their claim of physical persecution
if returned to Poland at this time". How such information should
be obtained by refugees who have been away from Poland for years
and who in many cases have cut off all ties to their former
homeland, is not explained, nor is any inkling given of the
character or source of the information which caused the c h a n-
e o f o f f i c i a l p o l i c y t o w a r d t h e
p r e s e n t g o v e r n m e n t o f P o 1 a n d.
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The action of United States Immigration and Naturalization
Service has aroused anxiety amounting to panic for the refugees
affected by it who had, so far, enjoyed the legal effects of
stay of deportation. (A few days ago, one of them confessed to
us that since he had received the notice, he could hardly sleep
at nights, because he went in fear of being seized by Immigrati-
on agents at any moment).
Public It also caused a deep resentment amongst the Polish American
reaction
community in this country. These feelings found their expression
i.a. in the following resolution, adopted by National Council
of the Polish American Congress at Williamsburg, Va., on Septori-
ber 27, 1958:
"And be it finally resolved that the Polish American Con-
gress communicate to the proper authorities a censure of recent
harsh and merciless methods employed by our Immigration and
Naturalization Service in trying to deliver into the hands of
the Warsaw regime deserving anti-Communist -Voles - regardless
how they reach our shores - seeking asylum in our country. This
change of policy seems to be based on the false theory that
some relaxation of the notorious Stalinist methods of terror
signifies a genuine change in the situation in Poland."
The Conference of Americans of Central and Eastern European
Descent in New York, on February 28, 1959, resolved that:
"... it deplores most emphatically a n y endeavorr on tho
part of some U.S. Authorities to deport anti-Communist refugees
to any Communist-dominated country. This constitutes a flagrant
violation of our principles and also betrays the hopes of our
allies behind the Iron Curtain. Our traditional right of asylum
should in no circumstances be weakened by a policy of expedien_,
cyPt .
"Nowt' Swiat" (The Polish Morning World) , leading Polish Ame??
rican daily, writes in its editorial comment on February 18,
1959:
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"Time was our immigration authorities granted Polish refugees
and recent escapees stays of deportation when they happened to be
illegally in this country. The reason for that grant was that
these people had no country to Go to. And our authorities agreed
that being violently opposed to Communism they are undeportable
as long as Poland is under an alien-imposed, Communist rule, be-
cause their personal liberty would be violated. The abrupt change-
of-heart of our Immigration Service insofar as Polish nationals
are concerned, is surprising. It is oven astonishing when one
stops to think that our Justice Department's about-face in Polish
immigration cases came at a time when the political thaw in Po-
land ended ..."
Feelings of surprise and indignation were aroused by the un-
warranted assertion that political conditions in Poland have
changed to such an extent as to justify deportation of Poles to
their native country. Uo know that the political situation in
Poland "at this time", as reported by the American newspapers and
by our own extensive contacts with recent escapees, does not give
a basis to believe that a Pole who expressed the will not to re-
turn to that country for fear of Communism, and applied for asylum
in the United States, would not expose himself to dangers and
persecution, if sent back to Poland. The more fact of deportation
from the United States, i.e. a c o m p u 1 s o r y r e t u r n
a g a i n s t h i s w i 1 1, is an obvious evidence of his
unwillingness to live under the Communist regime which in the
eyes of the Communist administration would qualify hira as an
{`e n c in y
o f t h e p e o p 1
. Luch persons, even if
not imprisoned or tried immediately upon their return to Poland,
are subject to systematic discrimination in the field of employ-
ment; education of children, allotment of apartments, taxation
etc., which makes the life unbearable; - a discrimination which
may turn into physical persecution at the whim of Mr. Khrushchevts
Warsaw puppets..
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Responsibility Is it not the responsibility of the United States Govern-
of US Govern-
ment ment; which until 1958 has quickly and readily granted Poles
Departure
from
'Polish
October'
in this country stays of deportation, to demonstrate to the
American public and to the Polish American community; so loyal.
in its attachment to American policies, clearly and unoquivoc
ally why the situation is different today, on what factual
grounds it was known that yesterday these deportees would have
suffered physical persecution, and why today and t o m o r -
r o w there is no longer any danger ? Surely a responsible
Government like the United States, so dedicated to liberty
from its inception, should realize the gravity of the situati-
on. It should not commit itself to such actions without public
justification to the countries of the free world which conti-
nuo to offer haven to the refugees and escapees from Comrauni,-__
Although we believe that the United States Government
should sustain the burden of proving how the Communiqt rariir.o
in Poland has suddenly become safe for refugees, we neverthem
loss offer our own comments.
Contrary to the allegation of the U.& Immigration 7,-!
Naturalization Service that the political situation in Poland
has lately improved, it has in fact deteriorated considerably
All reports - official and private, including reports of cor--?
respondents of loading newspapers such as the Now York Times,
New York Herald Tribune, Christian Science Monitor, -? ok'y
magazines and others - give evidence that the short periol of
relative freedom, following the events of October, 1956 is
over, and former restrictions, limitations and prohibition
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The
T'orkersI
Councils
are being systematically reimposed.
Illustrative of the totalitarian Party rule and of the sup-
pression of democratic freedoms and human rights, presently pro.-
valent in Poland, are few examples given below-
The `It:!orkers' Councils" which had been sot up by the workers
in some State enterprises in the Fall of 1956 and then legalized
on November 19, 1956, underwent a radical change. A determination
of the Communist Party not to allow the workers to evade the
Party's guidance, was stressed by Wladyslaw Gomulka at the annued
Convention of Labor Unions in l.pril, 1958. He declared that the
Ilorkers' Councils must be merged into an organization called
"Conference of the i-:'orkers' Self-Government", consisting also o_=
Shop Councils (Union organizations) and the factory Communist
Party committees. The "Trybuna Ludu", official Party organ, stated
that the Party "regards the Unions as its closest organization
and backt round and as the transmitter of Socialist (Coim!-1un .std
ideology to the working masses"; it is therefore interested in
st.rengthoning the Unions, and Party members active within the
Unions have specific tasks to fulfill in this connection.
The Party's decision on. 'workers' Councils was carried out by
forcing through the Diet the enactment of a Law of December 20,
1958 under the dcce.etivo name of ";:,'orkers' Self-Government" and
in fact placing the Polish workers again under the strict Par+,
rule and discipline, contrary to their openly manifested ;:ill
Censorship Censorship has boon tightened as shown by the notor _ous .up.
prossion of the weekly "Po .i'rostu" for its criticism of the
regime, the suppression of the review "Europa"., and the latest
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Church-
State
Relations
suppression - starting from '..prillst, 1959 - of the weekly "Swiat
i Polska", for the officially stated reason of having failed to
fulfill propaganda tasks set to it by the Communist Party.
In Lpril, 1958, new instructions wore issued by the Party to
publishing houses (all State owned) banning the publication of
books; (a) by cm:riigr'; authors, unless unpolitical, (b) about the
Polish war-time underground Home Array or free Polish Forces in
the West, (c) by "known rovisionists1'9. Translations of estorn
books were to be reduced in favor of books from the Soviet orbit.
?Then the Polish Writers' Union at its annual meeting in De-
comber, 1958 attacked Government censorship and accepted a resolu-
tion calling for the defence of freedom of expression, it became
the object of sharp attacks by the Communist Party, which flatly
stated that rebel writers would be banned from responsible jobs
in publishing and other cultural fields. (N.Y. Times, February
6 and 8, 1959)
In October, 1958 the Minister of Culture announced that the
Party would start a big now cultural drive and would have a great
deal more to say about the choice of books for publication and
general evaluation of all cultural activities.
Gorlulka regimo's steady rapprochement with Moscow tends to
dull gradually some of the concessions
Catholic Church in Poland.
obtained by the Roman
In August 1958, an edict of :education
iienkowski barred members of religious
Minister Wladyslaw
orders from teaching reli-
gion in the public schools. Because of the ban,
schools lacking religion classes range to over 2,000.
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At the same time the order barring "religious symbols" -- mean-.
ing crucifixes - frorrl schools was the cause for active resistance
in many areas. Clashes with the police resulted, and heavy fines
were imposed on the "offenders".
Last year, the charitable activities of the Church became the
source of a serious clash between the hierarchy and the Gomulka
regime. The State said that relief goods sint by the American Bi-
shops' overseas charities agency, Catholic Relief Services -? Nation-,
al Catholic 6dolfaro Conference, wore subject to customs duties - n .c
else had to be consigned to oho state-operated Committee for Soci n'.
Relief. As a result of the hostile attitude of the regime, Cathc:l__^
Roliof Services - NCWC announced in New York it was suspending
large shipments of relief goods to Poland.
The anti-Church campaign in the press reached its peak ins-t;
summer. The government and Party newspapers began attacks on ho
hierarchy. The bishops were charged with such crimes as .fWo7i.,1g
political action hostile to f9people's Poland" - supposedl;r _'_nsrired
by Vatican elements supporting "German militarism", and ,; `.tt Onna -
deism and intolerance toward non-believers and non-Catholics,
The Cardinal-Primate, moreover, was charged with violating lawn,
concerning censorship of publications. Such charges reached Main,
climax with the invasion of the Primate's institute at Jana Goes
monastery in Czestochowa last July 21. The public prosecutoy's
office backed up by the police, raided the offices of the =nr> `_:;
tute and seized books and pamphlets, mimeographed texts and r.ocoed;,
immobilizing the work of the institute.
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This was not the only police raid on religious institutions.
Recently the offices of the Bishop of ?Wroclaw, Boleslaw Kominek,
were raided and searched by the police. The Institute of Higher
Religious Education recently established in that city, was
seized by the government and all its activities stopped.
In July 1958, Reverend Aarian Pirozynski, editor of a theo-
logical periodical "Homo Doi", was arrested and last February
he was condemned to two years in prison for allegedly trying to
purchase newsprint illegally, for printing more copies of the
periodical than he was officially permitted. (State control over
the distribution of newsprint is an indirect method of censor-
ship of the press in a Communist country) .
Other conflicts took place on the parochial. level. In seve-
ral instances, priests were sentenced to prison terms for the
substance of sermons allegedly provoking violence against non-
believers.
i", Law enacted on November 3rd, 1958 reorganized universities
and other schools of higher education. The apparent autonomy of
the universities and their departments is narrowly limited by
the right of the Minister of Higher Education to veto academic
elections, his power to invalidate the decisions of university
ruling; bodies, and his extensive supervisory authority. He deter-
mines the direction of school activities, programs of scientific
research and studies, establishes curricula and rules of studios,
decides on principles of financing the schools and on their con-
tacts with foreign. countries. The schools must "take active part
in building of Communism in Ponple's Poland".
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In a similar way the autonomy of the legal profession was
limited in spite of strong opposition, by the provisions of the
Law of November 5, 1958.
Return to Only recently, at a meeting hold in Cracow on February 23,
Party line"
1959 and reported in the New York Times, the Communist Prime Mi-
Continuous
flight of
Poles toV
the vast
nister of Poland Jozef Cyrankicwicz warned young people who had
"made errors" to go back into the Party, but also that "when the
Party turns to the ideological offensive, a 1 1 t h o s o
w h o w e r e s u c h a t r o u b l e f o r i t
b e t w e e n 1 9 5 6 a n d 1 9 5 8 w i l l b e s i
f e n c e d".
On March 10, 1959, in his seven-hour long speech Wladyslaw
Gomulka, First secretary of the Communist Party in Poland -
bo.side a repetition of usual invectives against "Western impe-
rialists" - gave an identical warning that "Communists were
determined to put down any activities they considered anti-
Socia-list".
These examples of the recent trend displayed by the Communist
rulers of Poland, give evidence that, i f t h e r o i s a
p o l i t i c a l c h a n g e i n t h a t c o u n t r y,
i t h a s b e e n i n t h e d i r e c t i o n o f
s u b s t a n t i a l l y 1. i in i t i n g t h o s e f re a-
d o in s w h i c h P o l e s s e e m e d t o h a v e
w o n a s r e s u l t o f a b i t t e r s t r u g
g 1 e.
The continuous flight of Poles from their country i.8 in
sharp contrast with the appraisal of the Immigration Service.
.Poles are well known for their deep attachment to their native
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soil, and will leave it only out of despair and utmost necessity.
And yet - especially during the last two years - numbers of Poles
asking for asylum in Western Europe have shown a steady increase.
The United ;Mates authorities have all details of how many Poles
have left Poland in search for freedom, and that as recently as
February 13, 1959 two Polish fishermen on the Baltic locked
their skipper and another crew member in a cabin and escaped to
Denmark to ask for asylum. If Denmark had deported those fisher-
men back to Poland, not only public opinion in the United States
but the United States Government would have looked upon such
action with disfavor. Why different standards should be applied
to the right of asylum in the United States than in the countries
adjoining Communist dictatorships, is not explained by the Immi-
gration and Naturalization. Service.
Jf: appears that European countries closer to the source
have a different understanding of the situation.
Voice of The Council of Europe discussed the conditions behind the
Council
of Europe Iron Curtain on October 17, 1958. Mr. Frans Goedhart, delegate
from the Netherlands, speaking also on behalf of the Danish dele-
gate Mr. Bogholm, stated:
"In Poland we have seen possibly a more dramatic swing back
towards the old days than in any of the other countries. Nearly
all the gains by the Polish people in October, 19, appear now
to be lost. The freedom of the press has virtually disappeared.
The really welcome sign of allowing more and more Poles, parti-
cularly intellectuals, to travel abroad, has now been curtailed
not by any regulations; but by the simple process of raising the
cost of passports by no less than six times in the last year.
particularly dramatic development has been the steadily dete-
riorating relationship between Mr. Gomulka and Cardinal Wyszyn-
ski ... although religious education in schools has not yet been
interfered with ... However, it has been restricted and matters
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reached a climax at the end of July with the police raid on the
Abbey of Jasna Gera at Cz t(~rhowu, zalii -h i e tkLo -~ } jar
of the Doman Catholic Church . . . t'
And the British delegate Mr. Mulley said:
"I believe that it is absurd to try to understand the situ-
ation in Poland, unless we take cognizance of the fact that there
are 22 Soviet divisions in Eastern Germany".
As result of a long debate on the plight of East European
nations now under the Soviet domination, Council of Europe on
October 17, 1983 adopted unanimously a resolution, to the effect
that the member governments of the Council of Europe were great-
ly concerned for the freedom and right of self-determination of
the peoples of Eastern and Central Europe.
Denver Concern for the fate of :refugees was also expressed by the
Conference
on Immi- Denver Conference on Irmiigration hold on December 6, 1955 which
oration
among: other recommendations for reform of our immigration laws
reco7,iraended that our laws and the administration thereof should
to a greater extent practice the time-honored American tradition
of granting asylum to victims of racial, religious and political
persecution.
Satellites' There is nothing in the history of the relationships between
dependence
on Russia the Soviets and the enslaved countries to justify any faith,
optimism or belief that the latter can take an independent stand.
There have been uprisings in Poland, Hungary and East Germany,
all beaten down bloodily by Soviet troops. While one of the
satellites may deem it politically expedient to make temporary
civil concessions to the people, such concessions cannot be view-
ed as implying progressive amelioration. To the contrary, as soon
as is convc_enient, the Soviet philosophy, restrictions, doprivati?--
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ons of personal liberty and persecutions are restored. Those in-
volved in the insurgent moves are murdered. We cannot stress
enough the need to view cynically the promises of any Communist
country that it will not persecute anyone who refuses to accept
the Communist ideology.
In changing the criteria for deportation of nationals of
Iron Curtain countries because of a temporary change in the
"Party line" of the home country, our Government ignores the al-
most always temporary nature of the modifications in the Commu-
nist tactics. A momentary relaxation in restrictions of the indi-
vidual frequently turns into retribution against those who
took such relaxation too seriously.
Stays of Under the circumstances which were only briefly sketched
deportation
above, it seems unrealistic to require that applicants for a
stay of deportation because of political persecution introduce
conclusive evi.deiiee that they per;;enal ly. if sent back to Poland,
would suffer physical persecution. Even if they are not
_nnj,1 1 F,kn-
ed immediately upon arrival, there is however no guarantee at
all that they will be spared persecution in the future.
Would it not be much more, realistic to recognize that under
a Communist totalitarian regime a n y p e r s 0 n n o t
i n y m p a t h y w i t h s u c h g o v e r n m e n t
i s a p o t e n t i a 1 p e r s e c u t e e and that
those who have tried unsuccessfully to escape from the Communist
grip, will be under a special surveillance and will be singled
out for punishment and discrimination at the first opportunity.
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11.4. -
i'icceptance
of deportees
b Communist
regime
are aware that the recent change in the policy of the
Immigration and Naturalization Service is not caused exclusive-
ly by changes in the tactics of the Communist government of
Poland. It has been broug'It about also by a changed attitude of
the Narsaw government towards some demands made upon it by our
Government. Until some months ago, the former government refu-
sed to accept deportees. 1.t the same time it did not permit its
own nationals to leave the country, whother for purposes of
immigration or to visit abroad.
Under Section 243(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act,
visas may not be issued to nationals of a country which, upon
request of the American Government, denies or unduly delays
acceptance of deportees.
It is believed that the Communist government in -Poland now
finds it desirable for some of its nationals to travel abroad
and. to come to the United States, and as a result of this change
in policy, the government is also more lenient in accepting
deportees from the United States.
The relationship between Sections 243(g) and 243(h) should
not be confused and distorted.. Section 243(8) of the law very
clearly requires that the issuance of United States immigration
visas may be discontinued for natives of a country which refuses
to accept back or delays the acceptance of deportees, and the
law does not limit this to Communist countries. Section 243(h)
clearly refers to people, who request a stay of deportation be-
cause they fear physical persecution. Any genuine legal connect-
ion between these two Sections of the law has not been establish-
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- 1.5 -
ed by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service.
While .from the point of view of the United Mates foreign
policy it may be dosirabl; to encourage an exchange of persons
with 'oland, and while for orderly administration of the Immi-
gration and Nationality Acct it is desirable that persons with
final orders of deportation be deported to the country of their
nationality, it should be pointed out that this particular
"thaw" in the attitude of the red government has little bearing
on their treatment of Polish nationals upon return of such
nationals to Poland. If the Immigration and Naturalization Ser-
vice has granted a stay of deportation under Section 243(h) in
connection with an individual case, it is difficult to under-
stand how the individual involved can now prove that the eviden--
cc which allegedly changed the government policy, is not appli-
cable to his case in view of the fact that he does not know
the evidence, nor has he been in Poland for some time.
Until now it has not been necessary for refugees to submit
such evidence. The United Mates Immigration Service and the
t:ctito Tyr, artmoiit havc both f _ivuzi cognizance to the fact that
anti-Com unist refugees would suffer such persecution. The new
approach is unreasonable since it places the applicants in an
extremely difficult situation. It is practically impossible,
except in a few blatant cases, for an individual to prove that
no individually will be tortured, because Communist governments
do not acl.vertizo their crimes until it pleases them to do so.
Neither the inhabitants of the Soviets, nor the free world
press always know whether someone has been executed or im-
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prisonod.a The little people especially do not make the headlines.
Deportees attention is also called to the fact that p e r s o n s
as tools of
pr2ar;anda d e p o r t e d f o r c i b l y i n t h i s f a s h i o n
after y e a r s i n t h e U n i t a d S t a t e s, may
well be used by the Polish authorities, whenever they deem it
appropriate, for propaganda against the United States. The re-
fusal of the deportees -to so "cooperate" might well have dire
consequences for them, and their personal unhappiness and bitter--.
noss for having been summarily rejected, may leave them little
or no choice as tools for propaganda.
tjgainst D e p o r t a t i o n o f t h e s e p e o p 1 e t o
American
interests P o 1 a n J. w i 1 1 n o t s e r v o A m e r i c a n i iu?-
t e r o s t s; on the other hand, it may do a great service to
the interests of the Soviet Union and Communism and also, in the
long run, bring most dangerous repercussions among, our Western
allies and neutral Puropean countries. Although subjr~ci-_, to con-
stant pressure on the part; of the Soviet and satellite r overn-
monts, these countries, up to date9 have followed continuou
Principle
at stake
a most hurianitarian, politically wise, and remarkably courageous
policy in this respect, granting asylum to almost every decent
escapee from the Communist-dominated part of Europe
The President of the United States, the Secretary of State
and other prominent I mericans have publicly declared time and
time again that it was the firm policy of this country not Jo
accept the present enslavement of Poland and the status quo in
Eastorn Europa, to assist those who yearn and struggle for free--
dog behind the Iron Curtain, and to uphold their hope in a
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1-7
bettor future.
It would be, indeed, e total denial of this policy and of
the American tradition, if Poles who have applied for haven in
this country, were forcibly deported to Poland and handed over
to the hated Communist authorities. Such. an action when revealed
to the Polish people, would have the effect of profound and
bitter disappointment in the values of American ideals.
In his speech at Philadelphia on January 2Lk, 1959, Robert
K. Gray, Secretary to the Cabinet, described the Communist
system in the following; words
Communism is the grave enemy of freedom and national inde-
pendence. Wherever it penetrates, it agitates, subverts, and de-
stroys. The system itself is based on mechanistic conformity,
both in terms of human beings and national groups. It turns men
into cogs in the materialistic machine, tkinking and acting
under central dictatorship.."
Do our loaders in the Government, and especially in our
Immigration ;crvicc - not believe in this excellent summary of
what Communism stands for, and what it is - with some tactical
adjustments - trying to achieve ? Or do we believe; that there
exists a bract of Communism which we can accept or go along
with ?
We earnestly hope that it is not so, and that our whole
concept of life is based on the principles of human dignity
and freedom.
Submitting this evaluatior of the political situation in
Poland (without pretending that it is complete), we firmly
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18
believe that the now trend in the policy of United States
Immigration and Naturalization Service is in effect of an
error of judgement, and that the Government and Legislature
of the United States will uphold the traditional American
policy of friendship and help to escapees and refugees coming
here in search of freedom, and thus reaffirm our historical
position as a home for the suffering and the persecuted and
our standing as a world leader.
(Ft.Rev.Msgr.) Felix F. Burant
President,
Pol-i,sh iirierican 1 , ~_i L dc:lief Committee
2,Y St.Marks Place, Now York 3, N.Y.
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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
WASHINGTON, D. C.
Right Reverend Monsignor Felix F. Burant
President, Polish American Immigration
& Relief Committee, Incorporated
25 St. Marks Place
New York 3, New York\
Dear Monsignor:
I wish to thank you f
concerning the deportation
States Immigration and Natur
applies to Polish citizens no
Since the deportation of
within the purview of the C
I am therefore unable to as
However, your courtesy in ' `ringi
Lion is appreciated.
tter of 13 March,
of the United
ion Service as it
this country.
fugees does not fall
Intelligence Agency,
u in this matter.
this to my atten-
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MEMORANDUM FOR: Mr? Dulles
You will be interested to ]now that approxi-
mately two dozen identical letters had been sent
to various influential persons in Washington,
including the Attorney General
FORM NO. lol REPLACES FORM 10.101
1 AUG 54 WHICH MAY BE USED.
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