PADEREWSKI

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160639, 4 May 1920, Page 7

PADEREWSKI

PATRIOTIC POLE,

HIS COUNTRY’S FUTURE. (By E. R. Peacock, iu the Sydney “Sun”). “How glad I am to welcome you from Australia iu my owu country!” was the cordial greeting L received from Jau Ignace Paderewski, when 1 called upon him a few days ago. “Australia,” he continued, “has made a most amazing effort in the war, greater in proportion than any other country in the world. Her military effort and achievements were equalled only by the generosity of her civil population in contribution of money and comforts. Poland appreciates all this to the utmost, because Poland lias perhaps benefited more than any other people. Wo have recovered our national freedom,”

Reference was made to M: Paderewski’s own work as Prime Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Chief Delegate to the Peace Conference during the time of such vital importance to Poland.

“Yes,” he said. “It has been a very strenuous time —live and a half years of very hard work since the war began, and the last year _ seventeen hours a day, much of it in railway trains travelling hack and fro through Europe, between Paris and Warsaw.” “And such a contrast to your past life as an artist,” 1 ventured to suggest. “Mot so great as some suppose, because although 1 love my art, it was always secondary in my lile. I loved Poland more. My art has served my life purpose and one aim wonderfully well. it has enabled me to make many friends and connections all over the world, and in the most influential circles, so that when the opportunity came these were willing to help mo in Poland’s cause. Yes! my art has been secondary, hut it has served its purpose well—hotter, perhaps, than any other means could. I don’t suppose I shall ever follow it again. I have not be able to touch an instrument scarcely for years now.” “And what of the future both of yourself and Poland ! J ” “Oh! my life is wrapped up in Poland. Both Madame Paderewski and myself are exhausted, and wo are going to Switzerland for a few weeks to recuperate, and then we shall return to take up our work again. Of Poland we arc sure, but she has anxious times all cad.

BACKED THE WRONG HORSE

“Poland is the guardian and custodian of the peace of Europe. At present it is Poland which is the only barrier between Bolshevism and Europe, and neither Western Europe nor Great Britain realises the tremendous task wlicih we have on hand. The Entente have been backing the wrong horse in supporting Kolichak and Denikin. Now is seen the disaster which lias followed Ibis mistake, and more than 500 locomotives, 14,000 new cars, and enormous supplies of guns and munitions of war have all fallen into the hands of the Bolsheviks, while Poland is holding the real front, so far successfully, without any adequate support. Europe docs not realise tho danger and how far Russia has fallen back into barbarism. “City trade and commerce generally has ceased; that means civilisation has broken down. A goose costs 1600 roubles; child can be stolen—and they both serve tho same purpose. 1 1 is not possible to exaggerate the reports we arc continually receiving from Russia, .intimately wc believe Bolsho* v ism "will die, but the end is not yet in sight. Poland needs help to light tho common enemy of civilisation.”

HIS GREATEST WORK

M. Paderewski was surrounded with all the characteristics of the artist. His picturesque personality, dress, movements and gestures, the rich furniture, decorations, ilowors, tributes, contributed to make a strong contrast to the conventional statesman, or man of affairs, yet there is no doubt lie was the man for the time, and rendered Poland a service which no other man could have equalled. He must have worked hard for years to have perfected his mastery in art, and won the distinctions, achievements and ovations of the world at large, but it has been left for his later years, after equally hard work in another sphere, to have crowned all his previous records with a success compared with which the ovations of vast crowds sink back into comparativci ■comnionpllacß in his own estimation.

It came ou his lifty-ninth hirlliday, 'after his arduous labours in Paris, when lie returned with the document in his pocket from the Peace. Conference, which again established Poland, after 150 years of subjection and partition, as a new, united, free and independent nation.

KOSCIUSKO’S VOICE,

He appeared before the Diet in 'Warsaw, and, placing the limits of ids labour on the table of the. Chamber, delivered a speecli in which all the genius of the artist, enthusiasm of the free, the loyalty of the patriot, and oratory of the statesman, were combined in a degree rarely equalled, never excelled.

“It is necessary now to rejoice.” ho declared. “Poland lives! Poland lives! What if the Bolsheviks are on our cast and the Germans threaten ns in the west? What if we have food (roubles, finance (roubles, or even il the scourge of fell disease stalks through cur land? Poland lives! and this is the work of the Peace Conference.”

And so ho went on ringing the changes on the theme. Hushing back over her glorious historic past, depicting her hours of darkness, suffering, almost despair, paying tribute' to those who through all had devoted themselves under persecution to the task of regaining her liberty, and the painting in rosy colours of hope and confidence her destined great, glorious, and responsible future. The climax came when tiio Diet rose, as one man, ratified the Treaty and sot up of national approval on the accomplishment of Paderewski’s work.