WHY KREMLIN IS PURGING POLAND

Chronicle (Levin), 31 October 1949, Page 5

WHY KREMLIN IS PURGING POLAND

(N.Z.P.A.-

— Reuter.

Copyriaht)

Received Sunday 8.15 p.m. LONDGN, Oct. 29. At least seven deputy ministers and a large number of officials were arrested in the Polish purge, says the Daily Telegraph's diplomatic correspondent. It is believed in London that the purge is designed to complete the process oi cleaning up the Russian satellite coun tries which was hegun hy the Kremlin after Tito's successful defection. The Communists and fellower travellers who showed signs of heing too in dependent for Moscow have already heen executed, imprisoned or disgraced in Rumania, Bulgaria, Alhania and Hungary. The correspondent adds that it is too early to say whether it is intended to stage a spectacular "Tito spy" trial in Poland on the lines of the recent Rajk trials in Hungary, "but it may safely hc assumed that the purge has been made necessary hy the sheer pressure of nationalist, and tlierefore anti-Russian, feeling in Poland. In Geneva today a Red Pross spokeeman said the Polish Government hdd told the International Red Cross to withdraw its mission. The Daily Herald's Geneva corres pondent says it is understood that aii other international welfare bodies, mcluding the International Refugee Oigamsation, have also heen told to leave Poland. The Red Cross has asked to be allowed to complete its work before leaving. NEW BULGARIAN PURGE

Tito's party newspaper Borha today reported a new Bulgarian purge to weed out Communists who had strayeu from the Moscow line. Tanjug, the Yugoslav Official Newsagency, also reporting the purge san; 200 had already heen arrested, inclucl ing three former Government ministersIt added that the mass arrests ' 'provoned great hitterness ainong the Bulgarian workers." Borha said Bulgaria was putting s many people in gaol that it was havinto build new concentration camps K housfc them. Ainong the arrested Borha listed Iva_. Stepanov, former finance minister; H Sekelarov, former Public Works Minis ter; Petko Kunin, former Industry Min ister, and General Vasil Markov, a mem ber of the Central Committee of thi Bulgarian Workers' Party.