POLAND.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIV, Issue 14007, 11 March 1920, Page 6

POLAND.

(By A. Mariassin.) ■ "The victory of the Allies and the • heroism of, her own people ; livered Poland—that martyr country . i—from Gentian, Austrian, and Russian domination. Never did even the. most optimistic of Polish patriotsdream that thev would witness •such a miracle—the complete political rebirth of their country. The whole -I ©/ Poland has suffered much from the t!-ir. the ! terrible and disastrous .effects of which I are felt particularly in the part ol the i country which was under Russian doniI inatiori. Many factories and nidus- ' trial establishments were destroyed by | tho Russians at the time of their rp--1 treat from Poland. The Germans, duri/ing their occupation, ruined Polish m- ' dustry, according to the programme which thev applied in Belgium and Northern 'France. Their martyrdom and the oppression of ages has had the effect of uniting the Polish people, and what one> sees in Poland is entirely different from what was witnessed in Russia after tho revolution and during tho Kercnsky regime, when everything was swamped under a dolugo of words. Here there is less tulle but more work.

Poland is J afc war with Soviet Russia, nnd* must employ thu.-grenter part of her onergy and national activity in fighting against, the hordes of Lenin nnd Trotsky, who threaten her existence. At the same time, Poland must

be prepared to defend herself against any German aggression, the danger .of which is not yet completely removed. Unfortunately," the Governments of Kolchak, Denikin, and Judenitch fail to inspire the Poles with confidence. It is greatly feared here that the establishment of a reactionary regime in Russia ; Will endanger the independence of Poland. This distrust is caused by the sinister rumors _which are spread by the enemies of Russia and by the' Bolsheviks themselves, who are interested in making the Poles believe that the Success of the armies of Denikin and Kolchak would bring about a dreadful reaction and a white terror in Russia. Having suffered so much from the Russian reaction, Poland is suspicious. The activity of certain irresponsible Russian reactionary circles, whom the great catastrophe has taught nothing and who have forgotten nothing, is probably . one of the. causes of this distrust. .

A frank and enlightened democratic policy and a formal assurance on the part' of the Governments of Kolchak and, Denikin that they would recognise without reservation Poland's independence and all her just claims, would have allowed the Polish army to unite with thp army of Denikin for put&ng an'end to the Bolshevik domination in Russia. It must not be forgotten that the Bolshevik domination in Russia is a perpetual menace to the social peace of the whole of Europe, and especially to Poland. M. Paderewski, who. has definitely resigned, is an advocate of an understanding with Russia. It is in be regretted, that his opinion has not always been shared by all the political parties. An understanding with Russia is necessary for Poland and for the vital interests of the Allies. It will certainly be verv , difficult to satisfy everybody, and fix the frontiers tween Poland and Russia in such a manner as to eliminate every thing that might prejudice those future good political and economic relations of the two Slav countries, which are so necessary for their reconstruction and as a. guarantee against any aggression on the part of the advocates of "revanche" in Germany.

At the present moment Poland is passing through a serious economic crisis, .which is due to the lack of food, the disorganisation of transport, and the destruction of her industrial establishments, in the first place by the Russians on their retreat, and then; by the German armies. Before the war' Poland' exported large quantities of products of prime necessity, woollen and cotton goods, boots, petrol, butter, eggs, and so on; but to-day she lacks everything. It is true that in Warsaw the windows of the big shops are filled with textiles, boots and shoes, 'rind various luxurious articles of food, but the prices are exorbitant, and increase from day to day in an astonishing manner. These goods, owing to their extremely high prices, are "only within the reach of the well-to-do'. The working population, the small employers, as well as the vast majority of the intellectual class—professors and schoolmasters suffer terribly by the dearness of living. The Government is carrying on' a bitter fight against illicit speculation; the names of the profiteers who are condemned are -published in the newspapers and posted in the streets: But here, .as elsewhere in Europe, the fight is a very difficult one, and even though it be conducted with the greatest energy,' it will not make any material change in the situation. In the, _'month of November the Paderewski ■Government adopted very, strong measures for relieving the difficult situation in connection with the feeding of the population of Poland, caused by the shortage of fuel and the rise in the price of bread. The pood (361b) of wood had risen 'to 12 marks, and the funt ,(14 ounces) of bread t0,6-7 marks in the open market. A certain number of passenger trains were suppressed in order that fuel and food might be transported to Warsaw. These- energetic measures brought about a notable improvement in the cnnitnl. Tin? situation is aggravated by the continued fail in the rate of exchange for the Polish mark. In July the pound sterling wus quoted in Warsaw ab 65-70 Polish marks. the present time it is quoted on the Bourse at 400 to 420 marks, ,and the French franc at 10 to 12 marks. This state of affairs makes it almost impossible to sell ■ English merchandise in Poland, because) thanks to the drop in ex-

change, English goods traugjj land when the pound stain marks could be purchnscljH 40 per cent, cheaper. An| cost £lO or £l2 in LoiH bought licre for £7 to £Bn •What are the causes ofH I fall in exchange.which iiH j the import trade? 'Hie in j litical situation of Poltn i stable to-day than it was In j ago, and it can he affirmedn ' Governmeiit takes, the "«*• . sures for improving the lijfl tion, organising transports ticularly for increasing pr<*3l country can discard any twm extremists caji seriously di'itjM nal peace. *1 I have seen here in Wtirsa'l significant public demonstrate Sunday, Nov. 9. the iinnivcraj liberation of Poland from ft| mination was.celebrated. Sol iose a working day, the Ml* i this memorable anniversary. I'vanced. bv-two-; On Nov, l(i ! small body of Polish legion}" ed by studeints and pupils of n disarmed the German gurnsmj saw, which consisted of moll "25,000 men. The. a Mark w» s den, the courage and hero* young men so- sublime, that" of the* Germans offered any fl " Headed bv bands and flags, ! diers. students, all the vollW, schools, Tuimerous societies, I enormous crowd of men and? all classes celebrated the amft marching through the pimafi of Warsaw. 'There was no m the significance of the foclnW throng. Any attempt on thy the extremists to endanger » of the eotintry will he fougW best elements of the nation i .same heroism and 1 abnegation displayed in fighting the oe# vaders.' ,> It must not be forgotten great element in the social « Poland is provided by the pea* represent about 70 per cent" population, and who, on m their material interests and™ the great influence e\erci«o_ them bv the' Catholic eW strongly opposed to even frm shevik or extremist propafS Government is well a»»n'» restoration of Poland, and ni» si3a.ro the population the horron rial troubles, it is ?, place to assure the well-bans, rural nopulation. On tb« B Catholic, clergy* who during martyrdom of Poland Mffi sors'in check, have been •» the confidence of the in the rural districts. Ttog know how to combat en\ a "J3 extremist propaganda a 0 P folSdsthe.ndof Nou>f] another demonstration «"*« j ganised by the Socialist j«*9 participation of extremist dfl«g the head of the precession gallows with a rope and Q scribed "Death to the spccoWJ crowd of about 8000 P^° n ? , J £ women, mostly workmen nnttg ployecs preceded by ous inscriptions, Pa™g th *s streets.of Warsaw Ini" u« > ( was extremely well spite of the very bad wentl sang revolutionary songs anu ternationale." From hot organisers uttered hostile £ the. Government, which »«« . rf by part of the crowd, l>ne that, generally spenkinfc *j stration gave no cause oi . was a protest against tlw wg. living, the bread and co. ilq« than a politica manifest. t>o n j apparent .that if the Govern ceeds in improving the extremist propaganda dangerous, even among " It must be admittedI thw » propaganda of of f less dangerous than Tn - pfcs d queues, in which now I* ■ e'ntly clad, .stand for »x j hours awaiting the distnD J and bread. Here lies tne g j and the Government is taking measures foi si"' lation useless «"?«?*-,„, Ml to help Poland « < an di to organise, her tran«por j tries, and in P n^K e U4 assisted in her .<X gdHI struggle against the fe^ Bolshevism •«■ self against, these rfj also defending the inter | Allien m