HC Deb 13 December 1948 vol 459 cc98-9W
Major Beamish

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on what date His Majesty's Government ceased to recognise the Polish Armed Forces in the United Kingdom as owing allegiance to the Polish Republic under Article 3, Paragraph 1, Appendix 2 of the Military Agreement of 5th August, 1940, between His Majesty's Government and the Government of Poland; and whether this withdrawal of recognition was co-incidental with the date on which this military agreement lapsed.

Mr. McNeil

On 5th July, 1945, His Majesty's Government withdrew recognition from the London Polish Government with whom they had concluded the Anglo-Polish Forces agreement of 5th August, 1940, and simultaneously gave provisional recognition to the Polish Provisional Government of National Unity in Warsaw. The Polish Armed Forces under British Command were unwilling to owe allegiance to, or accept officers appointed by, that Government. On 14th February, 1946, the Polish Provisional Government of National Unity formally informed His Majesty's Government in an official note thatfrom today the Polish land, sea and air units abroad can no longer be considered as units of the Polish Army. However, discipline in the Polish Forces continued to be based on Polish law until the passing of the Polish Resettlement Act on 27th March, 1947, which legalised that state of affairs retrospectively to 1st January, 1945.

As regards the agreement of 5th August, 1940, it was never fully applicable between His Majesty's Government and the Polish Provisional Government of National Unity owing to the circumstances described. It could not in any case be regarded as effective after 14th February, 1946.

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