RUSSIA'S POLISH POLICY

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3096, 29 May 1917, Page 5

RUSSIA'S POLISH POLICY

PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT PROCLAMATION ' The following is a translation of tho text of a proclamation to the Polos by the Bussian Provisional Government, ft copy of which, in French, reached the Russian consul in Melbourne last .week, tram the Russian Embassy in London-.— Poles. The old Kussiau regime, the cause of our common servitude and of our disunion, has just been overthrown for over. By its Provisional Government, invested with complete power, liberated Russia hastens to convey to yon its fraternal greetings, and calls you to a new and free existence. The old regime gave you hypocritical promises, which it couhl, but never wished to, carry out. The Central Powers'profited'by. tho mistakes of tho old regime. to occupy and lay waste your country. It is only with the end in view of the struggle against Kussia that they have conceded to you illusory political rights, which'thoy did not extend over the whole Polish notion, but only over the part of Poland occupied for the time by tlie enemy. They wished to Luy at this prico'the "blood of a'notion which has never struggled for the maitnenance of despotism. At this time the army of Poland win. surely not go to fight under the command of its' age-long enemy against the cause of liberty arid for (he dismemberment of its country. Brothers of Poland, for you also tho hour of great decision has sounded. Free llussia calls you into the ranks of the combatants for the liberties of tho nations. The Russian nation, which has shaken oitthe yoke of despotism, recognises equally the fullright of the brother nation of Poland to regulate its destiny according to its will. Tho Provisional Government, faithful to the agreements with its Allies, faithful also t to the coinnion principles of tjie struggle against militant Germanism, thinks Umt tho creation of an independent Polish State, constituted by the regions in which the Polish population is in the majority, will' offer in ths future a sure pledge of a solid peace in new Europe. Attached to Kussia by a freo military ■union, the Polish State will'offer a powerful rampart against the aggressive tendencies of tho Central Powers, which threaten the Slav nations. '

The Polish-nation, freed nnd united, ■will itself determine its political veffinv;, expressing its will by the constituent assembly, which will h" called ia the capital of Poland-on the basis of. universal' suffrage. Russia has faith that the nations united to Poland by wholo centuries of a common lifo jvill thus obtain a solid guarantee of their civic aiid national existence. It vill be part of Ihe Constituent Riiesiau Assembly' to- cotiKolidatn definitely-, this new brotherly union and to. give its ' consent to the modifications of territory of the linssiau State, which are indispensable, for the constitution of free Polond,- formed of. till its three parts at present disunited. Accept, then, brothers of Poland, tho hand of brotherhood which free Russia reaches out to you. Faithful guardians of great traditions of the past, arise now to saint? the'new dawn in yonr history, the lour of Poland's resurrection. May the union of our sentiments and of our Tiearte anticipate the future alliance of our Statee! May the old call •of the messengers, of your liberation resound with a new and irresistible force! Forward to the struggle side by side, hand in hand, for our liberty.

. (Signed) MILIOnKOFP. London, April 3, 1917. No. +78. Secretary to the Embassy, G. Wolkoff