WHOLESALE CORRUPTION REPORTED IN WARSAW

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5304, 17 January 1947, Page 5

WHOLESALE CORRUPTION REPORTED IN WARSAW

J i — j Communist 'Influence Spreading " LONDON, .Tanuary 16. The Daily Herald's correspondent who has arrived in Warsaw to re- ' pori on Monday's Polish elections,has described some of the things thait are happening. "On totally unproved- allegations of collaboration with the Germans or with the present underground movernent, opposition supporters are being struck off the electoral registers, Wholesale strong -pressure is being exerted to force voters to declare their votes openly. Factory workers are asked to avoid polling booths and •hand their voting cards to Communist iactory leaders who will record them. "The opposition is being deprived oi' any chance of controlling the counting of votes. Local opposition hcadquarters are heing eonstantly attacked by gangs of toughs. "In fact, the whole machinery of Government is working at high pressure to ensure that Monday's elections, instead of being 'free and imfettered,' will stifle all opposition and produce certain 'victory' for the Government. "Government spokesmen assert that they are sure of winning the election 'because they 'have the su-p-port of the population.' Nobody doubi.s that they will win — hands down — but he reason they adduce for the anticipated victory is highly irrelevant and the results of the polling cannot possibly substantiate it."