Poland was born in the United States on 20 June 1909.  In 1942 he was an intelligence officer for the Royal Canadian Air Force and, upon his arrest in 1946, was working for the Wartime Information Board's Interdepartmental Psychological Warfare Committee.  Poland had access to a great deal of classified information, particularly relating to his responsibilities in communicating with Military Attachés from foreign governments.  Poland refused to speak before the commission and the only evidence they possessed against him was testimony from Gouzenko about discussions he overheard in the embassy.  Otherwise, the commission's accusation of guilt was based almost completely on Poland's ideological beliefs and 'known character.'  The lack of evidence translated into an acquittal when presented at trial.