POLES IN U.S.A.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 August 1942, Page 4

POLES IN U.S.A.

DISTRUST OF “SLAV UNITY” SOME FEARS OF RUSSIAN DOMINATION. OBSTACLES TO NATIONAL AGREEMENT. (By R. H. Markham, in the “Christian Science Monitor.”) It is a strange fact that although most of the major Polish organisations in the United States disapproved of the American-Slav Congress, recently held in Detroit, a majority of the participants and of the leaders in the Congress were Poles, that is Americans of Polish origin. The president of the Congress was a Pole, the chairmen of most of the meetings were Poles, the new president of the permanent Ame-rican-Slav Organisation is a Pole. Poles, indeed —and by Poles is always meant Americans of Polish origin —were chiefly responsible for the outstanding .success of the enterprise. A few months earlier an attempt to hold such a congress in Pittsburgh failed. The one in Detroit succeeded because of the Michigan Committee. On the Board of Directors of the Michigan Committee were such names as the following: Osowski, Nowak, Ceglowski, Cibasiewicz, Koscinski, Kozdroj, Godlewski, Stanowska. The priest opening the principal meeting was named Borkowicz. One of the most popular speakers was Krzycki. It is plain even to the uninitiated that these names came from Poland. The powerful Polish fraternal organisation, which altogether number not far from half a million members, were lukewarm or opposed to the congress and most of the Polish language Press — there arc nine daily papers—was opposed to it, yet Poles made this the most resounding display of Slav unity that has taken place in recent decades any place in the world. That seems an enigma. Indeed, it is an enigma. Very few nations are constantly faced with such terrible dilemmas as the Poles. MEMORIES OF SUFFERING. It is not unnatural for the Poles to be wary of an all-Slav Congress, even of an American-Slav Congress. The very expression All-Slav arouses deep aversion, even horror, in many Poles, because they interpret “Slavism,” “Slav unity,” even “Slav co-operation” as meaning Russian domination. And the Poles have suffered terribly from Russian domination. It may be they have suffered more from the Russians than from any other nation. Hundreds of American Poles have close relatives who have suffered personally from Russian cruelty.

In addition to this, Russia is now Communist, while a majority of Americans of Polish origin are rather ardent Roman Catholics, and, as such, suspicious of Soviet Russia. Then again, if the Red Army should defeat Hitler’s Army, is it certain that a victorious Russia would not annex extensive territories claimed by Poles? All these considerations make many American Poles very reserved toward the idea of Slavic solidarity.

Another important factor in the Polish attitude is the fact that the Poles have taken the lead in the fight against Hitler, in contrast to other Slavs. The Slovaks of Europe became Allies and tools of Hitler, with the ardent approval of some American Slovaks. In fact,, some American Slovaks are often accused of having helped break up Czechoslovakia. Some Ukrainians, too, have taken the side of Hitler. The Bulgarians joined Hitler. Macedonians sing praises to Hitler for “freeing” them. Some Croats are fawning satellites of Hitler. The Serbs have a General Nedich serving under Hitler, and fighting against brave Serbian Chetniks. So why, the Poles ask, should they at this late hour, after their heroic resistance, fraternise with former Slav “appeasers” or even with Slav Alfies of Hitler, to show their opposition to Hitler! PERSISTENCE OF GROUPINGS. It must also be remembered that “old country” Polish politics have a decided influence on many Poles here. Over there were two groups that might be called Natinalists and Internationalists. The Nationalists were so strongly opposed to co-operation with Russia that they were almost pro-German. The others believed Poles should take the side of Russia against the Germans. Then there were strong Clerical and Progressive groups, as also a powerful Pilsudski group and a strong Agrarian group. • These parties overlapped one another, but still they gave rise to definite lines of division. These divisions have been brought to America. Some Polish leaders here are still closer to the Vistula than to the Hudson or the Mississippi. Now a new cleavage is appearing: between the Polish “intelligentsia” and the Polish workers. The Polish workers seem to be for Slav unity. They supported the Congress. Fortunately, most Americans of Polish origin very ardently support America in the prosecution of the war, though there are a few Polish editors who arouse dissensions that seem to aid Hitler. It is to be hoped that the American-Slav Congress will have a unifying aftermath.