POLISH PATRIOTS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 181, 2 August 1944, Page 3

POLISH PATRIOTS

COMMITTEE'S STATUS PROTEST AGAINST ATTACK (P.A.) WELLINGTON, this day. An emphatic protest against the attack on the leaders of the Polish Committee of National Liberation, contained in a cablegram from the Polish Telegraph Agency in London, and issued to the Press by the Polish Consul-General, is made by Dr. I. Reifer, national representative of Poland to the All-Slav-Union in New Zealand.

. In a letter to Professor K. Wodzicki the Polish Consul-General, Dr. Reifer declares that the statement is designed to misinform the general public of New Zealand and is a blow against the unity of the Allied Nations.

"The moral and patriotic integrity of the men and women who lead the Polish patriots towards the final liberation of our fatherland are above suspicion," he states. "The statement that the majority of the leaders are Communists is untrue. The veiled suggestion that the Russian Government has forced certain persons into leadership is an invention worthy of the German Propaganda Ministry.

"The Polish National Council has the full and enthusiastic support of all freedom-loving, democratic Polish citizens. It endeavours to unite all the armed forces struggling against the invaders into a single people's army on Polish territory.

"The famous General Zeligowski, 'Hero of Wilno/ who resides in England, came out strongly in favour of the Polish National Council and friendly collaboration between the Russian and Polish people. His appeal created a profound response among the Polish troops in England, as well as among the Poles fighting together with the Red Army on the outskirts of Warsaw. It is untrue that Morawski, General Berling, Rola, A. Wiltos and Wanda Wasilew-ska-Korniejczuk are unknown to the Polish people. The statement vilifies people who not only were well known in Poland before 1939 as good patriots, democratic soldiers and artists, but who at the present time are at the head of scores of thousands of Poles, who daily give their blood and lives for our tormented country. The Polish National Council leads us Poles to speedy victory, and to peace. It, therefore, has our confidence and full support."