AN IMPASSIONED ADDRESS

Evening Star, Issue 24047, 20 November 1941, Page 8

AN IMPASSIONED ADDRESS

ROTARY CLUB LUNCHEON COUNT K. WODZIGKI SPEAKS Count K. Wodziski, Consul-General in Now Zealand for Poland, who at the outbreak of war was a professor at the Agricultural College attached to the Warsaw University, gave a most interesting address to members of the Rotary Club, assembled at their weekly luncheon, held in the Somerset Lounge to-day. The count feelingly acknowledged the kind interest and sympathy lie had found everywhere for the Polish people, and stated that the friendship shown was something that would have an effect on post-war relations. “ Early in 1939,” said Count Wodzicki, “the world was waiting for someone to say ‘No!’ to Hitler, and Poland was tho first to do this, even though tile Poles knew that help would come too late. No matter! Tho whole nation was decided, and so Poland had to carry the first crushing burden. For 10 centuries the people of Poland had decided to belong to the Western world, and to pattern their lives on the Christian beliefs there, and for these beliefs they fought and arc still fighting. The Count feelingly spoke of the way tho people of Scotland had opened thendoors to Polish soldiers now quartered there, and stated that the history of his country showed that a century ago emigrants from Scotland had settled in Poland and helped materially to build up her agricultural and industrial prosperity. These people, who arrived with true ideals of freedom, explained many facts which existed amongst the Polish people to-day. The ideal of the real freedom of the British was implanted in the hearts of his people. Upon the conclusion of the address Mr W. It. Brown, on behalf of assembled Rotarians, assured tho count of the great pleasure they felt in having a representative of such a great people with them, lii passing a vote of thanks he said: “ It is our hope that with the help of our great ally we will cage this German bird and effectively clip his wings and for ever cut his claws.”