ATTACK ON POLAND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 September 1939, Page 6

ATTACK ON POLAND

ALLEGATIONS OF OPPRESSION OF MINORITIES Published in Russian Newspaper i WEAKNESSES OF MULTI-NATIONAL STATE SIGNIFICANCE OF ONSLAUGHT MINIMISED * BY POLES (By Telegraph.—Press Association.— Copyright.) (Received This Day, 11.20 a.m.) MOSCOW, September 14. Significant allegations of Polish oppression of its Russian minority and also charges that Poland is no longer fit to govern herself, are contained in an article m the Pravda. ine Polish ruling classes,” the article states, “have done everything possible to aggravate relations with national minonties anc bring them to a state of extreme tension.” Analysing the causes of Poland’s military defeat, the article declares that it is not attributable to German preponderance, or to the lack of British and French support, but to the fact that the Polish State machine is disorganised. It was so impotent and inefficient that it began to crumple with the first military setback. Poland is on the verge of bankruptcy because of the inner weakness of a nation which is really a multi-national State Only sixty per cent of the population are Polish the remainder including eight million Ukrainians and three million White Russians. “It is clear that without minority rights being granted, it is impossible to preserve a multi-national State and asmiie internal unity and vital power,” the Pravda declares. fhe Ukrainians and White Russians-suffered the full brunt of Polish oppression and unscrupulous exploitation. Their lands were given to Polish miltiary colonists, the Polish language was forced on official circles and domination was maintained by punitive expeditions and field tribunals, while terror is fanning national discord, as a result of which minorities are doomed to cultural degradation.” Some interpret the article as a declaration of Russian interest in the Ukrainian and White Russian minorities, but Polish circles discount such an interpretation and profess to have no fear of Russian intervention. They categorically deny reports that fhe Polish Embassy is ready to leave Moscow.