ADVICE TO POLAND

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 December 1944, Page 5

ADVICE TO POLAND

MR. CHURCHILL’S CANDOUR

AGREE WITH RUSSIA LONDON, December 15. Mr Churchill opened a debate in the House of Commons on Poland. He said: “Hopes which I thought it proper, and indeed necessary, to:-ex-press last October have failed. When M. Milkola jezyk left Moscow my hope was that he would return under a week or so, with the authority of the Polish Government in London to agree about a Polish frontier on the basis of the Curzon Line, and its prolongation southward. I had several times drawn M.. Mikolajczyk’s attention to dangers in delay. Had he been able to return after the friendliest conversations between him and M. Stalin, and also conversations he had with members of the Lublin National Liberation Committee, with the assent of his colleagues, I believe that difficulties that were inherent in the formation of the Polish Government in harmony with the Lublin Committee might well have been overcome. In that case, he would, at present, be at the head of a Polish Government on Polish soil, recognised by all the United Nations, and awaiting the advance of the Russian Army moving further into Poland as the country was delivered from the Germans. M. Mikolajczyk was also assured of friendship and friendly help from M. Stalin. M. Mikolajczyk and his colleagues are more qualified than any other Polish leaders to fill the place of General Sikorski. The Poles, after M. Mikolajczyk’s return from Moscow, utterly failed to obtain agreement. The Polish Government was almost entirely reconstructed in a form which, in some respects, I certainly was unable to applaud. Already I. imagine that the prospect of a reconciliation between the Polish Government and the Lublin Committee has definitely receded, though they might, perhaps, advance again were M. Mikolajczyk able to speak with authority for the fortunes of the Polish. Nation.”

ADVANTAGES OFFERED

• Commenting that a Russian advance would bring larger tracts of Poland under the authority of the Lublin Committee, Mr Churchill said: I don’t know what misfortunes will attend such a development. The absence of an agreement might well be grievous for Poland. The relationship and misunderstandings between advancing Russian armies and the Polish Underground Movement may take forms which will be most painful for all who have the permanent well-being of Poland and of relationships between Poland and Russia at heart. It is a source of grievance to me that all of these forces could not have been joined together more speedily against the common foe. I cannot accept the view that arrangements which are proposed about a frontier for a new Poland are not solid or satisfactory, or would not give the Poles an abiding home. Il’ those areas around Lwow and the surrounding regions southward known as the Curzon Line “A” were joined to the Ukraine, Poland would gain in the north the whole of East Prussia west and south of Koenigsberg, including the great port of Danzig. Poland would gain this instead of the threatening artificial corridoi- built so laboriously after the last war. Poland would stretch freely along the Baltic on a front of ovei’ 200 miles, free, as far as Britain and Russia were concerned, to extend westward al the expense of Germany. I cannot believe such an offer r-c.iild lie rejected by Poland. TRANSFER OF POPULATION ’Mr. Churchill said the territorial compensation ' to Poland would of course have io be accompanied by disentanglement of populations in the west and south. The transference of several millions of people would have to he effected from the east to west, or north and the total expulsion of Germans from Ihe area gained by Poland. Expulsion was a method which would be most satisfactory and lasting. There would be no mixture of population to cause endless trouble as in Alsace-Lorraine. xA cigar sweep would be made. He was not alarmed by the prospect of disentanglement of population, nod by transference which was more possible now than ever before, through modern conditions. Disentanglement of population between Greece and Turkey after the last war was successful and produced splendid relations between those countries ever since. It solved problems which had been the cause of war and rumours of wars. Nor did he see why there should not be room in Germany for the population of East Prussia and other territories. Six or seven millions of Germans had been killed in this frightful war, into which they did not hesitate, to plunge all Europe and the world. Another ten or twelve million prisoners or foreigners were used as slaves in Germany now, and we hoped they would be restored to their own homes and lands. Many more Germans would be killed in the fighting which would occupy the Spring and Summer, and would involve the fiercest and largest battles of thi? war.

Mr.' Churchill recalled that when these questions were first foreshadowed by him, the British and American armies had not landed on the Continent, nor had the Russians advanced to the Vistula. The Poles in those days might have had some reason to ask whether the Allies would have power to deliver territory to Poland, but the situation had changed vastly. It seemed extremely unlikely that the evil dreadful forces in Germany who began the war would have power to resist the decisions of the conference at which the principal victorious Powers would be assembled. He had no doubt that the Great Powers, if they agreed could effect these transferences of population. AMERICAN ATTITUDE Mr. Churchill explained he had been in great difficulty because the attitude of the United States had not been defined wtih the precision which the British Government had reached, but that had not altered his determination to speak in terms which he thought it his duty with the assent of his colleagues to use in addressing the House. “We know however that Government and people of the United States have set their hearts on world organisation to prevent an outbreak of future wars. This world organisation would be fatally ruptured by a quarrel between any of the three most powerful empires which compose the Grand Alliance of the United Nations. The President is aware of everything that has passed, and what is in the mind of both the Russian and British Governments. The President had his ambassodar in JVloscow (Mr. Harriman) in the capacity of observer, and he was present at # all or nearly all of our discussions'. I have received no formal disagreement in all these long months upon the way in which the future of Poland seems to be shaping itself, or being shaped. No doubt when the time comes, the United States will make its own pronouncement bearing in mind the practical asnects that these matters assume and also the fact that failure of the three Great

Powers to work together would damage all our hopes for future structure of world government, which whatever else it may fail to do, will at any rate be equipped with all the powers necessary to prevent on. outbreak of further wars.” / In almost every case except Poland, it could be said that territorial changes should be left till the Peace Conference. It is for Poland’s advantage to AVOID THE GREAT EVILS which might occur. The Russian armies will probably, in the next few months, traverse large areas of Poland,- driving the Germans before them. If fierce fighting breaks out between large sections of the Polish population and Russian troops, very great suffering, which will and can be avoided, will inevitably occur, and new poisonous wounds inflicted on those who must dwell side by side in peace, confidence and goodneighbourliness. The Atlantic Charter asserts that there will be no changes before the peace table except changes mutually agreed upon. It is in the profound future interest of the Polish nation that they should reach agreement (with the Soviet Union about their disputed frontier before the march of Russian armies through the main part of Poland takes place. “I must, therefore, say, speaking on behalf of the . British Government, in a way which will probably be held binding by our successors, that at the conference we shall adhere to the line I am now unfolding, and not hesitate to proclaim that the Russians should be justly and rightly treated m being granted the claim they make to the eastern frontiers along the Curzon Line, as described. Mr Eden and myself spared no travail and no nsK of political rebuff in the efforts to brin? about a good, undci standing We never weakened in our resolve that Poland shall be restored . and stand erect as a sovereign independent nation, free to model hei social and any other institutions m any way her people choose, provided these are not on Fascist lines, and Poland stands loyally as a barrier and friend of Russia against German aggression from the west. In that task Poland will be so aided to the full by Russian and British guarantees and assistance.” . Mr Churchill expressed regret tnat the “Big Three” had been unable to meet again before Christmas, but hoped they would be able to> hold another conference before reng to deal with many questions besides tne Polish question. _ , Cheers greeted his statement that the Government would welcome sucn a conference in Britain.

WASHINGTON’S RECEPTION (Rec. noo^) ASHINGTON; D ec. 15. < Mr. Stettinius at a Press conference to-day promised a frank statement soon on American policy J soecting the British and Russiai moves in Europe. Mr. Stettimus declined to comment on Mr. Churchill speech because he had not had time to analyse it. He added ihat the whole Polish question was tied up with Mr. Churchill’s speech. The Associated Press says that Mi Churchills statement caught Washington by surprise. Senator Tait a Republican said: It looks like the end of the Atlantic Charter, and a return to power politics. s e na ,Wp Pepper (Democrat member of tne Foreign Relations Committee) said that these decisions on affairs which often prove a source oi wai be settled by two nations They should be settled by the United Nations, with decent respect tor the opinion of mankind m generel. Any other settlement flies right m the face of the proposed world security organisation.