POLISH PATRIOTS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 175, 6 May 1944, Page 6

POLISH PATRIOTS.

RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA.

CONFIDENCE RE-ESTABLISHED.

LONDON, April 22

“One of tlie most remarkable stories in modern Polish history,” is how the Moscow correspondent of the London “Times” describes the efforts of a group of Poles in Russia to re-estab-lish the confidence of Russian leaders in their nation.

This group, which a year ago undertook the task of mending SovietPolish relations, includes Wanda Wassilwewska, who is a. member of the suppressed Polish Communist Party, but who is a writer rather than a political figure; Andrei Witos, a member of the executive committee of the Peasant Party; Boleslav Drobner, Polish Socialist and former municipal councillor of Cracow; Major-General Zigmund Berling, a member of the Pilsudslci Party and chief of staff of one of General Anders’ divisions; and the well-known engineer, Grumovski, who is a National Democrat. The readiness with which the Russian leaders welcomed the new group, and encouraged it to take tlie responsibility for the welfare of all Poles in Russia, indicates that the existence of a Polish nation devoted to the tradition of independence and national ways of life is one of the firfti principles of Soviet foreign policy .

Achieved Unit.

“Nevertheless,” adds the correspondent, “there remained numb scepticism among Polish exiles in Russia, many of whom feared that the Union of Polish Patriots, which is tlie name of the new group, would dissipate its energies in political controversy or Utopian plans for the future of Poland. Not many thought this small group in Moscow would establish schools and orphanages, distribute food, clothes and funds, publish newspapers and books, and mould the Polish population of the Soviet Union into a united body behind the broad but clear-cut policy of fighting for a new Poland in good relations with the Soviet and the Western Democracies. “Within a year of its formation the Union of Polish Patriots has achieved such prestige that 80 per cent, of the Poles in Russia are believed to approve. Moreover, the unfortunate inn pression which was created in Russia by the Polish Government’® attitude over the Katyn affair and the attitude of the unofficial Polish newspapersin Britain and America has been wiped out to such an extent that the Russians have permitted the formation of a coiisiderable.Polish army in Russia.

(The Germans alleged 'that many thousands of Polish officers were murdered by the Russians and buried in the Katyn Forest, near Smolensk, but a Russian commission of inquiry established that the Germans themselves were the murderers. The action of the Polish Government in London, however, in requesting the Interna 1 tional Red Cross to inquire into the German allegations led to the severing of diplomatic relations by Russia.)

No Communist Poland.

“It is widely agreed among Poles in Moscow that the reasons for the growth in stature of the Union of Polish Patriots include the following:

“(1) Marshal Stalin’s unequivocal declaration that the Soviet desires a strong independent democratic Poland.

“(2) Confidence that the Union of Polish Patriots does not aspire to become the Government of Poland, but will firmly adhere to the principle that the people of liberated Poland must choose their Government in free elections.

“(3) The creation and achievements of the Polish Army in Russia, whose bearing in the battle of Lenino last autumn evoked Russian tributes.

“(4) The practical results of the Union’s work in welfare and education.”

The correspondent concludes: “Inside and outside the Union of Polish Patriots I have found a determination that a realistic approach to the Russian question should not hamper the development of good relations with the Western Democracies. None even among the most extreme Left-wingers invisages a Communist Poland.”