ELOQUENT TRIBUTES

Evening Star, Issue 24909, 6 July 1943, Page 3

ELOQUENT TRIBUTES

FORTNIGHT OF NATIONAL MOURNING (Rec. 11 a.m.) RUGBY, July o\ The tragic and untimely death of General Sikorski deprives Poland of the man who rallied her scattered forces and set to work with undiminished faith to re-create a' Polish army. His work brought to a, high state of efficiency the Polish forces on land and in the air, and he lived long enough to see Poland's national future guaranteed by a most formidable-fighting force.- Nor is Poland the* only 'loser by his death. Britain N found in him a stout-hearted collaborator. He was not only a true patriot, but essentially a good European. His considerable infiuencewas invariably exerted towards straightforward, energetic co-operation among-the nations at war with Germany. He sought to exclude issues < which, by perpetuating differences, might weaken the common effort. Nowhere were these qualities more valuable than in the handling of Polish relations with the Soviet. In that sphere he laboured incessantly to create and maintain an atmosphere as between Allies. He did not: accept the recent breach as final, and in spite of most discouraging circumstances did not lose faith in the successful establishment of relations.

M. Stanislaw Mikolajczyk, who has been appointed Acting Premier, has been Minister of the Interior and the Peasant Party representative in the Cabinet since 1939, and was recently appointed Deputy-Eu'emier. General Kukiel, now acting as Commander-in-Chief, has long commanded the Polish army in Britain. When the Polish Cabinet met thi? morning the President,:M. fßaczkiewicz, paying homage to the memory of General Sikorski, said: "He fell at his-post while fulfilling his most arduous duties. He lived and worked solely for the good of the republic. We have lost a statesman, a great patriot, a leader, and a courageous soldier. May his death be for us all a guide how we should exert all our strength to finish the work he directed in'so praiseworthy a manner. May it also be an incentive to us to hold fast and maintain the closest unity among ourselves on the basis of national unity. May the "whole Polish nation, through its Government, be equal to the responsibilities of this inexpressibly difficult moment." : The tribute was paid by Cabinet standing in silence. M. Mikolajczyk also paid a tribute to General Sikorski's memory and pledged

the Poles to carry on the work lie had organised on the side of the Allies. Cabinet ordered a fortnight of national mourning. ■