Polish Forces Abroad

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24801, 15 February 1946, Page 4

Polish Forces Abroad

It may be doubted whether the statement Mr Bevin hopes to make soon on the future of the Polish armed forces in Italy/and, prestynably, in Britain 'nd the Middle East, will promise an early or easy end to a major point of controversy between London and Warsaw. More than 100,000 Polish soldiers, as the Secretary of War, Mr Lawson, told the House of Commons this week, are in Italy. Last August, Mr Bevin counselled them, and as many more in other parts, to return home. Ha explained that he had received various undertakings from the Polish Government’s representatives.

At Potsdam, in the course of three meetings, the Polish representatives had assured him that all Poles returning and settling in the new Poland would be accorded personal rights and rights of property on the same basis as Polish citizens; that the elections would be free, secret, and conducted in accordance with the 1921 constitution; that it was hoped to hold them as soon as possible and not later than early 1946; and that religion was free in Poland and would remain free. Furthermore, Mr Bevin added, Marshal Stalin had assured him that the Soviet troops would be withdrawn, except a small number required to maintain communications with Germany. Finally, “ though there is still “ the question of the prisons and “ secret police in Poland to be “cleared up”, he would nevertheless “ urge ” Poles oversea, both military and civilian, to go back to their country. Obviously, very few have returned from Italy, and as few, probably, have gone back from Britain and the Middle ”ast. After Mr Bevin’s recent reference to Poland as a “ police State ”, where “ political murders ” have been “committed in circumstances that, “in many cases, appear to point to “the complicity of the Po’’ ’ :r- “ ity police ”, the hope that his next statement will bring a solution in sight cannot be considered very strong, except as fresh ground for it may appear in a solution of the refugee problem which has, so far, proved to be one of UNO’S intractable ones. If Russia’s attitude becomes sufficiently conciliatory and liberal, that of the Polish Government is sure to be moderated accordingly.