Sikorski Reaffirms ‘equality’ Doctrine, Replying to Jewish Congress

Polish Premier Wladislaw Sikorski today reaffirmed the principle of “equal duties and equal rights” for all citizens of a reconstructed Poland in a statement before the Polish National Council which he described as a reply to a memorandum he received from the American Jewish Congress while in New York.

“Anybody acting against the principle of equal duties and equal rights for all citizens of the future Poland, regardless of nationality, race and religion, works against the interests of his own nation,” the Premier declared. “Poland, unfortunately, has often been the victim of many, very many, factors beyond her control. The Poles were too hastily blamed for anti-Semitism and pogroms.

“The declaration of the liberal principles guiding the Government–a declaration of its sincerely democratic policy in accordance with which in the future Poland the principle of equal duties and equal rights will apply to all citizens of the Republic regardless of nationality, race and religion–has explained my position properly. That is the attitude of the Polish Government.

“I wish to point out that no other view of this difficult problem was ever understood by the American community, who, like the British, are fighting with us the hard and stubborn fight against Hitler’s ideology. I have no doubt that the same principle ultimately will triumph also in this particier and, after all, so limited sphere. He who would act differently would work against the interests of his own nation.”

General Sikorski has decorated 12 Jews with the highest order of merit for bravery. Three Jews were awarded the Virtuti Military medal, equal to the British Victoria Cross. One such medal was awarded posthumously to a Jewish soldier who fell in the battle of Narvik, Polish commanders distributing the awards stressed the Polish Jews’ loyalty and bravery.

The awards form the largest batch yet granted to Jews in the Polish Army abroad. A new list will be published soon of Jews who played an active part in the French campaign. New facts have come to light to show how stubborn was the resistance of the Polish troops on the Maginot Line and how great a part the Jews played in it. On many occasions Jews were left in most responsible positions to cover the retreat of the French. Everywhere they gave an excellent account of themselves.