The Polish Government-in-Exile is urged today by influential British newspapers to act to end the mistreatment of Jews in the polish armed forces. The demand is voiced as a result of last week’s debate in the House of Commons on the question of anti-Semitism in the Polish Army and the requests of Jewish soldiers that they be transferred from Polish to British units.
Leading the demand is the Manchester Guardian which says that the debate has had a salutary effect, in that it makes clear to the Polish authorities that there is a considerable body of public opinion in Britain which is critical of their conduct, and that it is in their own interests to curb anti-Semitism in the Polish army. Referring to the refusal of both the Polish and British military authorities to transfer the 600 Jews remaining in the Polish forces to British units, the Guardian writes that it is doubtful that it will preserve morale to keep men in units in which they are persecuted. It also emphasizes that Foreign Secretary Eden must see to it that the Jewish soldiers are not punished because of their protests.
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