POLISH FASCISM

Grey River Argus, 22 September 1944, Page 6

POLISH FASCISM

Polish fascism—as embodied in the Polish emigre Government in London, —has again instituted an anti-Soviet, antiworking class, anti-progressive campaign. Its present reactionary campaign is centred around the upraising of General Bors’ “underground” movement.

It is necessary to understand the motives of the Polish fascists to realise why so much lying gutter journalism is being foisted on the reading public of to-day. Propaganda of the type we are getting regarding Poland is not new. Still deeply) impressed on the minds of the people is the 25 years’ campaign of insidious propaganda against the Soviet Union. Still recently was the attempt on the part of the capitalist press to portray Mikhailovic, as the leader of the Yugoslavia liberation movement. Now the capitalist press is benevolently trying to form our opinions regarding Poland. We, the people, will form our own opinions, just as we did about the Tito-Mikhail-ovic situation; we proved correct.

The present campaign of the fascist emigre Government of Poland is determined by three principles: (1) Their hatred of the Soviet Union; (2) their hatred of the progressive underground movement of Poland led by the Polish National Committee of liberation; (3) a determination on their part to again enslave the Polish people, as they did prior to 1939. One good thing is emanating from the Polish fascist Government’s policy. They arc exposing themselves to the whole world.

The Soviet Government’s desire regarding Poland is the same as that of all democratic people—the setting up of a democratic Government in place of the pre-war fascist Government. - ,

To understand the present set-up in Warsaw, we must be aware of the fact that in Poland there .are two underground movements. One underground movement is led by General Bors (acting under orders from the London emigre Government), and is the counterpart of the Yugoslav Chetniks. It has collaborated with the German fascists, and has done everything possible to weaken the other genuine underground movement. The premature uprising it staged in Warsaw was designed purely for political reasons, its aim being the establishment of the Polish fascist Government as the recognised authority in Warsaw, this authority to eventually extend over the whole of Poland.

There have been too many unsubstantiated statements appearing in the press, statements that have been uncompromisingly supported by the reactionaries in our midst. “Pravda,” leading Soviet newspaper, stated that the uprising has been magnified out of all proportion .to its effectiveness. “Pravda” has nothing to gain by making false statements: the capitalist press has. By mobilising public opinion behind Polish fascism it can ensure the unfettered rule of that power in post-war Poland, a rule contrary to the democratic aspirations of the Polish people.

The other underground movement is the progressive movement led by the Polish National Committee of Liberation, and has the support of the vast majority of the Polish people. Its immediate policy is the smashing of German fascism, and’ the establishing of a democratic Republic according to the wishes of the people.

Diplomatic recognition has been given to the Polish National Committee of Liberation by the Soviet Union. Significant is the fact that the London fascist Government had to send its. Prime Minister to open up negotiations with the National Committee of Liberation: the mountain was forced to wait upon Mahommet.

Where was the voice of the Polish emigre Government in London on April 19. 1943 ? On that date 35,000 Warsaw Jews —all that was left of the pre-war Jewish population of 500,000 —barricaded themselves in the Warsaw Ghetto and for weeks held off the armed might of German fascism. When their small supply of ammunition ran out, they fought with flaming rags and stones. They were killed to a man, woman and child. It took longer to reduce the Warsaw Ghetto than it took the Germans to reduce France. Did the Polish fascists ask for support for these gallant Polish people ? They did not ! The attitude of the Polish fascists towards the Jews is identical with that of the Nazis. In pre-war years the Polish Jews were persecuted by the Government of landowners and 'Capitalists. These Warsaw Jews carried out the best traditions of the working-class—and chose resistance rather than resignation. Only by resistance on the part of these gallant Polish people and of all progressive humanity has the smashing of German fascism been made possible.

Beware of all statements emanating from the Polish fascist Government in London, especially statements per medium of the Polish Telegraph Agency. The emigre Government in London represents only the landowners and capitalists of Poland. A democratic Government in Poland is what the Polish people are fighting for.

We can help to establish democracy in Poland by expos ing’ the Polish fascists in London, and by exposing’ their reactionary supporters both in New Zealand and elsewhere. The Polish progTessive working class has not let us down. We in turn must not let them down.