RUSSIA AND POLAND

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23942, 8 May 1943, Page 5

RUSSIA AND POLAND

STATEMENT OF M. STALIN

GENERAL SIKORSKI’S COMMENT

(Rec. 7.10 p.m.) LONDON, May 6. Much interest has been caused in London by M, Stalin’s statement in which he said Russia wished to see a strong and independent Poland. There was no official comment in London, but General Sikorski, Polish Prime Minister, said to-day that the Polish nation certainly wished to continue friendly relations with Russia and base them on the alliance against the implacable, age-long enemy of both countries.

“M. Stalin’s words correspond with the opinion he expressed to me during my stay in Moscow in December, 1941,” said General Sikorski. ‘‘lndeed the Germans have been for ages the common and implacable enemy of the Poles and Russians. The Polish nation wants, of course, continued friendly relations with Russia and to base them on an alliance directed against Germany. ‘‘However, it is difficult for me not to be restrained, even in the face of such a favourable declaration by M. Stalin, at the very moment when the Polish Ambassador has left Russia and the masses of the Polish populations in Russia are left without the care and assistance of their Government. Yet, in spite of this and in spite of many other facts, the Polish Government is ready to find a positive answer to any Soviet initiative which will coincide with the interests of the Polish Republic as defined in our common declaration of December 4, 1941, and my speech of May 4 last.”