Dispatch Sent, No. 672 [NA1]

Warsaw, January 4, 1921

… It seems that the determination of the Socialist Party to withdraw from the government is due to the fact that the tendency toward advanced radicalism in the Socialist Party has recently been growing stronger and that the party leaders feared that the party might suffer in the coming elections for the diet if the party continued to participate in a cabinet where the predominant influence was so far from the extreme Left. Witos, the president of the council, apparently recognized the danger of a complete overthrow of his government if he agreed to a withdrawal of the socialists, and accordingly set out for Zakopane, a small resort in the Carpathians where Daszyński had betaken himself upon his resignation. These two spent several days in private conference and concluded what is now referred to as the Peace of Zakopane, whereby the cabinet was to be made more radical by the elimination of the minister of justice Stanisław Nowodworski, and the minister for the former Prussian territory, Władysław Kucharski. I am informed that Daszyński also demanded the head of Skulski, the minister of the interior, but that he was obliged to abandon this idea. The resignation of food minister Śliwiński appears to have been no part of this arrangement but its result is to weaken the influence of the Right.

It appears for the moment in this constantly changing situation that Witos and Daszyński have decided to pool forces for a cabinet which will satisfy the socialists, but I am convinced that these two men have no feeling of obligation or loyalty to each other and that Witos will not hesitate to abandon Daszyński if this course is necessary in order to save himself.

A complete readjustment of the whole situation may be necessitated at any time. This agreement was largely facilitated by the reluctance of Daszyński to forego the enjoyment of public office but the Socialist Party which he represents does not appear extremely pleased by his new bargain and may either insist upon his withdrawal or repudiate it.