RUSSIANS AND POLAND

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 December 1945, Page 6

RUSSIANS AND POLAND

ALLEGATIONS IN COMMONS NO REAL FREEDOM (Rec. 11 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 7. The Russians’ dominance in Poland and the impenetrable _ screen of , secrecy with which Russia has surrounded all areas under her control was preventing the restoration of decent conditions for the Polish people, end discouraging the return to Poland of exiles at present unwillmg to leave the havens in free countries, said Admiral Taylor (Conservative), raising the subject in the Commons, on the motion for the adjournment. He said that Russia is economically strangling Poland by systematic spoliation. Arrests and deportations of members of the Polish anti-German underground movement continued. The Russians were using 6ft .deep pits, ’6O yards square, as concentration camps. An enormous- number of Polish women had been raped. There was no freedom of the Press or speech. He appealed to the British Government to persuade Russia to remedy this deolcrable state of affairs. Mr J. Paton (Labour), while deploring the conditions and events Admiral- Taylor described, pointea out that Poland was the key to Rust sin’s security system of buffer States. Russia was justified in organising this system as long as she accepted the standards of contemporary civilisation, and approved the practice of Nationalism. Events in the last 25 years have given the Russians ample grounds for suspicion. Admiral Taylor should remember that precisely similar criticisms were being levelled at Britain for conditions in Greece, and also that the present Polish Government was more representative than Colonel Beck’s pre-war system. Mr. J. D. Mack (Labour) said he had never listened to a greater farago of nonsense than that heard from Admiral Taylor. It was time someone had the courage to speak up about the Poles who frequented London during the .war. Mr. .Mack said that in the bars the Poles patronised in London could be seen enough anti-Russian propaganda to bring about a,greater war than had just been endured. MINISTER’S REPLY. Mr. Hector McNeil, replying for the Government, said that Britain accepted the assurances from Mr. Molotov about the number of troops in Poland. The Russians were there for good reasons. They were maintaining order and Britain would continue to conduct normal observations on their disposition. If the numbers became excessive Britain would remonstrate, but only if she had evidence. No evidence had been offered which the Government should be asked to examine. It was untrue to convey an impression that an iron curtain of secrecy existed. There was some sort of Press control, but British correspondents were given reasonable facilities. Mr, McNeil admitted that concentration camps existed and contained prisoners held mostly for political reasons. He also admitted he was quite certain there had been misbehaviour by Red Army soldiers, but he could not commit himself to such excessive certainty as Admiral Taylor bad shown in making the charges. Mr. McNeil added he considered it wise that the Polish elections should continue to be deferred until the conditions returned to normal, and while a considerable number of Poles remained outside Poland. Bri»tain hoped without thought of reward to help and encourage the Polish Government to bring Poland back to some kind of stability. Britain would continue to note irregularities, but not, in the frame of mind that everything was wrong in Poland. They must be fair to Russia. Bringing up arguments from minds poisoned against Russia would not advance the cause of Poland.