INFLUENCE WANES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22241, 29 January 1947, Page 5

INFLUENCE WANES

PEASANT_ LEADER POLISH POLL DEFEAT RISING PARTY CRITICISM (Special Correspondent. I (9 a.m.) LONDON. Jan. 28. The Observer's correspondent in Warsaw says M. Mikolajczyk faces a crisis in the Peasant Party as a result of his election defeat and tactics. Some of M. Mikolajczyk’s colleagues in the party feel that his stubborn policy has been “theoretically admirable but realistically “futile,” while his decision to appeal to the Supreme Court to annul the election has caused exasperation, since no one in Poland knows who the justices are who will consider the 'appeal. Moreover, evidence that neither Britain r.or the United States proposes to do more than lodge protests against the elections has added to difficulties of M. Mikolajczyk's position. Realists in the party point out that the protests will have no effect and that the Notes wil simply be added tc the Government's incoming file of correspondence. The Government has made full use of its victory by allotting the Peasant Party only 28 seats in the new Parliament. Some of the members of M Mikolajczyk’s group now blame him for refusing to compromise with the Communist-Socialist bloc when it offered the party 110 seats and five Ministries before. the election. The supreme council of the Peasant Party is to consider the situation at a meeting on Saturday. This meeting may result either in a split in the party or in the ousting of M. Mikolajczyk from itt leadership. The Communis'-ts have indicated that although they will not work with M, Mikolajczyk, they are prepared to accept some other member of his party.