Greymouth Evening Star. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1949. Poland’s Struggle For Freedom

Greymouth Evening Star, 23 September 1949, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1949. Poland’s Struggle For Freedom

DOLES’ in exile throughout the world—- • and they are numbered in very many thousands- —are' taking the opportunity provided by the occasion of the 10th anniversary this , month of the invasion and foreign occupation of their homeland to remind all free 'peoples that Polands struggle for freedom and ’ independence will never be abandoned. This proud nation appeared bound, when the tide turned against Hitler,-to resume ber-full independent status in the affairs of Europe. But today she is as tightly held in the grip of alien, rule as ever before in her long, history of subjection. That is saying something, for Poland has riot only been the .victim of aggression throughout the ages, but has suffered four historic partitions., . . To judge by her votes and attitudes at international conferences, Poland is today the most faithful member of the Soviet Union’s bloc of satellite nations. But Poland is represented there by the Communists, helped into power and supported by the Kremlin. When Poland speaks today, it is the voice of the Red regime installed in Warsaw. If an absolutely free vote were allowed s tomorrow, the Poles would undoubtedly expose the pretensions of their Communist masters. The great mass of the people, in whom the fire of freedom burned through centuries of oppression, know well the origins of this last decade of bitter suffering. It was not Hitler, alone, but Hitler and Stalin, aalio stood over the prostrate body of their country in the dreadful autumn of 1939. • The German invasion of Poland, commenced without a formal declaration of war on September lj 1939, was the military starting point of. the .Second World War, but actually the struggle may be said to have begun with the non-aggression pact signed by Germany and Russia nine days previously. In five weeks the Poles, whose military prowess .is traditional, were pounded to defeat by the massive armoured and air forces of the aggressor. Without adequate weapons of defence, they had had no chance from the start, but they fought gallantly in accordance with the traditions.of their race.. It must, of course, always be a matter of conjecture how long the Poles could have withstood the German onslaught, or how much of their armies they could have preserved by retreat into Rumania if Russian forces "had not poured in from the east on September 17, 1939. What is certain is that Soviet, perfidy brought untold suffering and death to thousands who might have escaped to carry on the struggle ,in exile. Moreover, the Russian deal with Hitler was only the beginning of a whole series of plots and devices designed to fasten Poland to the chariot wheels of Soviet imperialism. How well Moscow succeeded is now a matter of histo The plight of Poland and her enslaved neighbours must continue to be a reminder to the free nations that it is impossible to claim the four freedoms and other democratic rights for the West and at the same time condone ruthless Communist domination and slave labour camps in Eastern Europe. There cannot be true justice and freedom in one part of the world while there is slavery in another. There can be no compromise with evil. Those who advocate the pursuit of a policy of “live and let live” are building on foundations no stronger than shifting sands.