RUSSO-POLISH TEST

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 198, 19 May 1944, Page 5

RUSSO-POLISH TEST

Mention Of New Proposal

From Moscow (By Telegraph.—Press Assn—Copyright.) (Special Correspondent.)

LONDON, May 17. Tho Russo-Polish situation, described by “The Economist” as ‘‘still a storm centre of international politics, is once again attracting attention. Following the controversy about conditions in the Polish army aroused by the sentences pronounced recently on 'Jewish deserters, the Socialist group iii the National Council has tabled a motion of no-coutideuee in General Kukiel, Minister of Defence, whose resignation is demanded. The Jewish Socialist leader, Dr. Scherer, has also asked for _ the resignation of General Sosukowski, the Polish commander-in-chief. This situation, which the “NewslChronicle” thinks has “the makings of a serious crisis in the Polish set-tip” in Britain, comes at a time when new informal suggestions for the resumption of Polish-Russian relations have been conveyed to the Polish Government by the State Department of the United States after consultations with the Russian Government. “The Observer” says the Soviet wouid b e prepared, ou certain conditions, to make substantial concessions of the plan which proposed tho Curzon Line us the new frontier, and would agree to the return of Lvov to Poland, atid a|so a reconsideratio pof the problem of Vilna. A Russian condition is that the coalition of parties in the Mikolajvzjk Government in London -should be enlarged by the inclusion of the Union of Polish Patriots, which is an organization of Poles in Russia which should be placed on an equal footing with the other parties in London by being given three Ministers. The Russians also demand the unification of all the Polish armed forces in Russia, Britain, Italy, and tho Middle East, which would mean the abolition of the post now held by General Sosukowski. Possible Consequences. “The Economist,” while admitting that a fundamental factor iu liusso-Poiish relations is distrust, urges that AngloAmerican diplolnacy should make another attempt at reconciliation. The journal reviews the relations of the two countries and says the Poles’ fear of Russia aud the Russian distrust ot the Poles are both understandable. It adds that it is just possible there is still a solution. “The first need is to convince the Russians that the Polish Government in London is not anti-Russian and that neither Britain-, nor America disputes Russia’s demand that its western neighbour should be friendly,” it says. “Yet no assertions carry much weight as long as the antiRussian activities of the Polish army are permitted to continue. General Sosnkowski is not indispensable as commander-in-chief.” Suggesting that General Sosukowski should go, “The Economist” adds that once the Russian case is met to this extent, it should be the task of AngloAmerican xliplotuacy to bring home to the Kremlin how serious the consequences will be to lasting peace and co-opera-tion if the reply to concessions from the Polish end were to be a further Russian refusal to recognize and negotiate with tlio Polish Government in London, and adds: “Poland is the first real test of the statecraft of the Soviet Union, since its emergence ns one of the greatest of world Powers. It is no exaggeration to sny that the war mid pence in the future depend upon the manner in which this test is passed.”