PEASANT PARTY IN POLAND

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25095, 29 January 1947, Page 3

PEASANT PARTY IN POLAND

Mikolajczyk Facing Crisis ELECTION DEFEAT AND TACTICS (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, January 28. The “Observer’s” correspondent in Warsaw says Mr Mikolajczyk faces a crisis in the Peasant Party as a result of his election defeat and tactics. Some of Mr Mikolajczyk’s colleagues in the party feel that his stubborn policy has been “theoretically admirable but realistically futile,” while his decision to appeal to the Supreme Court tp annul the election has caused exasperation, since no one in Poland knows who the justices are who will consider the appeal. Moreover, evidence that neither Britain nor the United States proposes to do more than lodge protests against the elections has added to the difficulties of Mr Mikolajczyk’s position. Realists in the party point out that the protests will have no effect and that the Notes will simply be added to the Government’s incoming file of correspondence. The Government has made full use of its victory by allotting the Peasant Party only 28 seats in the new Parliament. Some of the members of Mr Mikolajczyk’s group How blame him for refusing to compromise with the Communist-Socialist bloc when it offered the party 110 seats and five Ministries before the election. The Supreme Council of the Peasant Party is to consider the situation at a meeting on February 1. This meeting may result either in a split in the party or in the ousting of Mr Mikolajczyk from its leadership. The Communists have indicated that although they will not work with Mr Mikolajczyk, they are prepared to accept some other member of his party.