RESISTANCE TO OPPRESSION

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23537, 15 January 1942, Page 6

RESISTANCE TO OPPRESSION

Attitude of Allied Governments MEETING HELD IN LONDON (8.0. W.) RUGBY. January 13. The Foreign Secretary (Mr R. A. Eden), speaking before the opening of the formal business of the Allied Conference at St. James's Palace, said; "This is the first of the Allied meetings which have been convened on the initiative of the Allied Governments now established in Britain. Its purpose is to make plain the attitude of these Governments to the cruel and tragic events now taking place in their countries." After thanking the Allied Governments for their courtesy in delaying the meeting until after his return from Moscow. Mr Eden continued: “This historic building has become, in a very real sense, the centre for the resistance of the oppressed nations of Europe to German aggression. Never has it had more to show the world than that the German so-called ‘New Order’ in Europe is a sham. ‘This false facade has completely failed to conceal the tyranny that lies behind it and the oppression and brutalities which everywhere have marked the entry of Gorman troops and the Gestapo into occupied countries. “To-day's meeting also has a message of encouragement to send out to the oppressed populations of Europe. Their tenacity and courage are contributing to our ultimate victory. “How different is the atmosphere to-day, and how different was the atmosphere of the recent conversations a 1: Washington and Moscow from that of the meeting at Berlin a few weeks age attended by the Quislings of Europe and the satellites of the Third Reich. “The Quislings have little reason to look to the» future with growing confidence. * “It is fitting that this meeting should be called by those most directly concerned —the Governments of the occupied territories. It is fitting that they should take the initiative in declaring the principles by which they will be guided on their return to their liberated countries. “All the nations represented round this table have suffered in different degrees from the ruthless aggressors. Their united strength is now at last being harnessed to the common cause, and will ensure its victory and the establishment and maintenance of a just and lasting peace.” POLAND UNDER THE NAZIS RECORD OF GERMAN BRUTALITY FACTS PLACED BEFORE CONFERENCE (8.0. W.) RUGBY, January 13. A damning indictment of Nazi brutality was made in a speech after the speeches by the delegates to the conference of repressed nations at St. James’s Palace to-day. Count Raczynski the Polish Acting-Foreign Minister, speaking in English, defined the German aims in Poland as “the destruction of all the vital forces of the nation—its culture, traditions, and economic achievements.” He added: “More than 80.000 citizens have been shot. Tens of thousands have died in concentration camps and hundreds of thousands have died of starvation cr misery inflicted by the aggressors. Mortality has risen four to five times since before the war. Hundreds of thousands of citizens have been sent to forced labour and nearly 2,000,000 deportees have been deprived ’of all their property. Millions are still awaiting the fate to be meted out to them. Schools are closed, churches are dishonoured, clergy are hunted down. Museums, libraries, and all that stands for national culture have been pillaged. “As executioner. Dr. Frank (the German Governor) surpasses himself each day in violating The Hague Convention.” Count Raczynski spoke of the extreme bitterness of tne German decree authorising German tribunals to judge Poles, including those under age, of deeds committed before the war.