Czechs Seek Federation With Poles
A Debate on Eastern Europe Russia Vojta genes Says: Czechs Seek Federation With Poles IN his article of March 6. under the title "Soviet-Polish Friction Jeopardizes Allies," Leon Dennen...
...He hoped ultimately for a Confederacy whose corner-stone was to be Poland...
...In its issue of March 2, Karpateka Rue, Carpatho-Russian semi-weekly published in the United States, assailed bitterly the news that Carpatho-Russia is be annexed, by Moscow's will, to Czechoslovakia...
...OUT while strange things are happening in some by-elections it is remarkable that the I.L.P...
...All are anxious for progress in social organization...
...Vojta Benes notwithstanding, it is now a matter record that the entire post-war program of the President of Czecho-Slovakia, particularfy^as-rt relates to Eastern and Central Europe, depends entirely upon Moscow...
...John Colville hao* Been chosen to be Governor of Bombay...
...Prior to the Russo-German Pact of 1939, he had spent four years in Moscow as the Czech envoy and had been largely instrumental in negotiating the Russo-Czecho-Slovak Pact...
...These even today hold for a maintenance .'of old bonds and friendship...
...Sir David King - Murray was to be hie successor in Parliament, accord-ing to the reactionary Tory machine . (which in the adjoining constituency had...
...One small people, numbering some 500,000, are an early overflow which in the migration of the nations" poured over the Carpathians and settled the Danube basin as a group related to the Ukrainians...
...But like many more loyal rank-and-file members of the Labar Party I cannot believe that an arrangement, which guarantees a three-to-one majority to ta* Tory Party has any permanent advantaa** *» the working class...
...As was to be expected where such strong individualists were gathered together the movement was not many months old when one of its most competent leaders, Mr...
...This recognition made no mention whatever of a Carpatho-Russian problem...
...On December 6, 1042, the Czechoslovak President, Dr...
...All are joined in the effort to ward off the ancient German danger...
...IN all this the reader can probably see the* * I cannot accept wholly the implications of the political truce while I admit that there is ?·*** advantages in it for the Labor Party and tbe British people at the moment...
...Benea has had to pay for his * agreement with Russia has been a stiff one...
...Her incorporation represents the will of a sovereign people...
...For several years Dr...
...The comparisons made by Mr...
...In so far as they are our allies in the present war, it would not be either . possible or friendly if we agreed regarding these important matters among ourselves and presented them with some sort of fait accompli...
...Vojta Benes errs when he states that "no mention whatever of a Carpatho-Russian problem" was made by Russia when it recently recognized the pre-Munich boundries of Czechoslovakia...
...Politically H> would be disastrous for the Labor Party to admit the Communist Party into affiliation...
...If Stalin," she wrote, "is willing to let Czecho-Slovakia retain the Carpatho-Ukraine, inhabited mostly by Ukrainian* (italics—L.D...
...It is well to remember, however, that the Little Entente had to be subscribed to by the Parliaments of its component states before it became binding...
...It affects also the whole of European politics and particularly certain great powers...
...The result is the»anti-reactionary vote can be rallied for any kind: of candidate who opposes the Tory machine...
...Vojta Benes that the incorporation of Carpatho-Russia into Czecho-Slovakia ^represents the will of a sovereign people...
...As most American Socialists know a political truce exists here between the three major political parties, on the assmuption that the primary concern of everybody is to get on with the war and leave party considerations until after Hitler is disposed of...
...In such a situation it is natural to expect an organization should arise to express this discontent which cannot find expression through the normal channels...
...The failure of' the movement for a federation between post-war Czecho-Slovakia and Poland, which is opposed strenuously by Soviet Russia in her own neo-imperialist interests, can be laid directly at the door of the Czech President...
...The President of Czechoslovakia, unlike Stalin, is concerned not with the acquisition of new territory but with the restoration of his country's pre-Munich borders...
...This, in outline, was what Leon Dennen stated was the cause of the friction in Eastern Europe...
...who, "in the migration of nations, poured over the Carpathians and- settled the Danube basin as a group related to the Ukrainians" .will be...
...Rumbles ?' happened in North Midlothian, and the political pattern was distressing./ / Col...
...Leon Dennen Replies: Czech Policies Are in Soviet Orbit IT is an historic irony that in the discussion * of ?urope',s .post-war frontiers now going on in Londoo...
...Miss Lee, who had strong " support from several National daily newspapers, had the endorsement of Sir Richard Acland, Tom Wintringham and Company...
...Its ' leading spokesmen are ' found usually speaking at Ministry of In-' formation meetings urging the workers re work harder and support the offensive...
...In the Bristol by-election the National Secretary of the LL.P...
...But whatever national or political necessity justifies the political truce there is a strong Socialist minority, particularly in constituencies where the representation is Tory, who feel that the truce hampers their work and they willingly ^kiek-over the traces when a by-election takes place in their constituency...
...Benes favored a Central European Federation with Poland and Jugoslavia...
...chosen Captain Ramsay who, as a Fascist, remains ? J*, bat sits not at Westminster but in Brixton Jail...
...The reason given was that Polish relations with Russia would-have to be settled before any further moves could be made...
...Bat he was stopped/ cold by the power of the Government Coalition and official Truce...
...BENES is conscious of the fact "that the *^ application of the confederative principle in Central Europe is not only a matter for the nations affected...
...Allies * first became publicly aware of a tense situation in Eastern Europe when several months ago Czechoslovakia, which had been working with Poland for a Central and Eastern European Federation, broke off negotiations with Poland on treaty questions...
...Will the War undermine the Labor Party...
...No matter what tbe workers suffer in bad conditions they must not go on strike, say the Communists...
...If it has any success during the period of the political truce it will present difficulties for the Labor Party when political warfare is restored...
...he does not want Russia to be alienated by controversies over territorial questions...
...lost his deposit and probably on any other grounds than purely party ones he was the most competent candidate in the field Iba British Communist Party is today too mach concerned with getting oa witk the war to bother about independent political activity...
...In by-elections where there » independent opposition to the National Gov...
...It is, therefore, most desirable that the Polish-Russian problem be settled promptly and completely...
...Zdenek Fierlinger, Czech Minister to Moscow...
...in politics, they abide by tt as 4 guide in all industrial disputes...
...E. Benes, talking at the University- of Manchester on "What Would Be a Good Peace" stated explicitly tbe Czechoslovak position on the proposed confederation...
...The latter, deprived of Polish assistance and without the full support of the League of Nations, was not strong enough to fulfill its mission efficiently...
...Benes, he prepared since 1918 for a close collaboration ~of Central European countries...
...The eastern-most strip of that country is occupied by what are ethnologically known and frequently called Carpatho-Russian or Ruthenians but are Ugro-Russians...
...The spineless echo of another government dots not attract working class support in this country...
...On February 23 the New York Time» carried a dispatch from .London by C. L. Sulzberger, "U.S.S.R...
...As early as t§18 Thomas Masaryk, the first Czech President^ in "his public speeches and his now famous book, "The New Europe" (Eyre and Spottiswoode, London), says in his chapter "Tue Czechoslovak State, United Poland, and Jugoslavia...
...The Czechoslovaks at the moment are friendly both to Poland and the Soviets...
...The National Executive has turned down the applies-^ tion but there will be a big stir in the blanches before it is finally disposed of...
...But because of the geographical position of his country he regards Soviet collaboration with the Allies as the cornerstone of post-war Europe...
...King-Murray effectively flaunted endorsements by leading Labor officials: Thousands of Britons are asking troublesome questions...
...Do they have a political function if they are consistently ordered to vote Tory...
...Moscow continued to ' recognize him as Czechoslovak Minister even after Bohemia was in-(Continaed on Page Six) Letter from Britain Labor Party Restless Under Tory Political Truce, Independents Bolt By JOHN DAVIS Special to The New Leader GLASGOW (By Clipper).—The political setup in this country could hardly be gauged by press reports of by-elections, as indeed all sorts of freakish things are happening...
...Guarantees Old Czech Borders,"-which stated among other things: ". . . . Moscow has served notice that it is not interested in seeking to acquire the territory of Ruthenia or Sub-Carpathian Russia...
...The Czechoslovaks will never cease to urge the collaboration of the three states mentioned, because without the friendly cooperation of these three nations there will be no security in Eastern Europe...
...Sometimes it is said that the I.L.P...
...Thus the Soviet Government, which has made claim to the territories of many small countries of Europe, found no difficulty in reaching an agreement with Czecho-Slovakia and recognizing her pre-Munich frontiers...
...The present effort of General Sikorski, directed towards 'the creation of a Central ? European confederation, only shows his democratic sense for an European cooperation...
...We do know," wrote Karpateka Rv*, "that our people, our brethren back home are interested in being re-united with their kinsmen...
...John Davis, New Leader correspondent in Glasgow, offers new background material to anderstand the rumbles of British jpolitics...
...As Blair Bolles put it succintly in his prc-Benes article in the Nation of March 20 "The respect accorded the obstinate democrat from Bohemia has become a barometer of our attitude toward the Soviet Uniom" · - It is regrettable that one should have to question the wisdom and even good faith of the leader of the brave little Czecho-Slovak Republic which alone in pre-Munich Europe, flanked as it was by semi-fascist Poland and Nazi Germany, was a haven of freedom and tolerance...
...Even the divisive policy' of "Opening a Second ' Front" has been discarded in favor of national unity...
...Fierlinger has long been an ardent exponent of Stalin's foreign policy...
...Moreover, while Stalin claims' Hegemony over all the Urkrainians ' in Eastern Europe—the basic bone of contention between Russia and the Sikorski Government of Poland—he is quite willing to leave Carpatho-Russia, a section of pre-Munich Czechoslovakia whose population is predominantly Ukrainian in origin, to the restored Czechoslovak Republic.* ·*·--* * » xtojta BENES' description of Carpatho-i* Russians.by the ethnological nomenclature of "Ugro-Ruesians" "numbering some 500,000...
...j This theory of helping Russia is the strongest weapon in the hands of reactionaries, and Ae...
...Socialists who have spent their lives fighting- Tories and their allies are not easily led to accept the permanent Tory representation of their district, particularly when there is no immediate danger to the countrv from a Nazi invasion...
...Dennen are quite iriept because of these facts...
...This Common-Wealth Movement which was started on the private wealth and standing of Sir Richard Acland, has the weakness of its strength...
...But to tear millions away from the homes they have known for generations and force them to migrate to other parts is hardly in keeping arith oar desire for a just and lasting peace, ? ? ' ' The key figure in Russo-Czech relations is not Dr...
...Stalin, on his part, is not averse to exploiting the prestige the Czech statesman enjoys in the Allied countries for his own ends, particularly in gaining influence over the Slav nations in Eastern Europe and the Balkans...
...For that reason, with the cooperation -of Dr...
...Here Jenny Lee, ex-I.L.P...
...Dennen apparently is unaware of the fact that strictly speaking the Carpatho-Russians and the Ruthenians do not inhabit Czechoslovakia...
...And so it happened, therefore, that the entire scheme resulted only in the Little Entente...
...is opposed to the war but at no time is it said that they would have us surrender to Hitlerism...
...A Debate on Eastern Europe Russia Vojta genes Says: Czechs Seek Federation With Poles IN his article of March 6. under the title "Soviet-Polish Friction Jeopardizes Allies," Leon Dennen says: "He (Stalin) is altogether unconcerned, for instance, with the fate of the Ruthen-ians and Carpatho-Russians whom be is perfectly willing to leave to Czechoslovakia whose government-in-exile, headed by Eduard Benea, is now playing his game par-*,--ticularly in the matter of torpedoing the ?* proposed Slav Federation, the brain child of General Sikorski...
...Communists are their greatest allies...
...All three states are closely related racially...
...In a recent manifesto of the Moscow All-Slav Committee, Stalin's newly-created' instrument for gaining control over the Slavs, the people inhabiting Sub-Carpathian Russia are referred to as Car-patho-Ukrainian* and not as Uyro-Russians...
...King-Marray was ad "Fascist," bat a typical old-line Tory...
...It is afteir alj'also our Czechoslovak idea...
...which prides itself in its unique position in the history of working class political organization, in that it was the historical forbear of the British Labor Party, is apparently standing still, or going backward, in spite of the fact that it has spent more money and run more candidates than any other organization in the country, . This is probably due to tbe fact that no one can tell exactly what is its attitude to the was...
...scorned and resented by every freedom-loving and progressive Ukrainian who hopes to achieve as a result of this war a united and independent Ukraine within an East-European Federation...
...The question of minorities is, of course, a grave one...
...And while they want a Socialist peace they have never been clear on what the people of Britain should do just now apart from voting for their candidates...
...At least one section of the Car-patho-Ukrainians—the pro-Soviet at that—is rather unhappy at the idea...
...And while the Russian armies and air force are mosf popular the political representatives of the' Comintern in this country are still as unwanted aa ever...
...ernment the Communist Party never falls to send its advice to tbe electorate to vote Tory...
...And so after several efforts at independent organization the Commonwealth Movement has taken the field...
...In 1918 the representatives of this group in America appealed to Thomas G. Masaryk with the request -that they be incorporated into Czechoslovakia and thus escape the cruel Hungarian feudal rule.Masaryk agreed to this request which, when subsequently ratified by the Czechoslovak Parliament, included the so-called Carpatho-Russians into the boundaries ' of the Republic...
...All Czechoslovaks regardless of their creed of political belief welcomed the London Agreement which provided that after the war tbe Czechoslovak and Polish governments will remain in dose collaboration leading to a new kind of confederation...
...There is-, of course, a world of difference between the political background, culture and ultimate aims of Eduard Benes and the master of the Kremlin...
...And a party of leaders with no rank-and-file is not possible...
...Dennen's judgment concerning the attitude of Czechoslovakia to a future confederation of Central European states, especially to the Czech-Pole Confederation...
...This state of affairs was realized.-by Russia when it recently recognized the pre-Munich boundaries of Czechoslovakia...
...Washington and Moscow, Eduard Benes, President of Czecho-Slovakia and one of the most respected and democratic European statesman,j should champion the foreign policy of the So$et Russia* the most undemocratic of our Allies?:,;'' .'>*'··''*- . Mr...
...The stor* of the sufferings of the workers in Russia ? need to maintain peace in industry and to create the feeling that the British workers have nothr ing to complain about...
...It is true that a majority of the Labor Party in National Conference has decided for the political truce and in loyalty the minority ought to accept this decision, but there has never been a period in political history in this country when a conference decision has governed the actions of Socialists confronted with a local situation in which their heredity enemies were ha^ng a walk-over...
...The fact remains, however, that should Stalin, in pursuance of the traditional Bolshevik policy of "revolutionary ex-clusivism," even within the coalition war, decide, as he did with regard to Casablanca, to ignore the United Nations conference scheduled soon in Washington, his views will be represented by Eduard Benes, who is expected to arrive here shortly...
...Votja Benes, brother of Eduard Benes, has taken exception to some of Mr...
...Nor am I as certain as Mr...
...It ought not to be torpedoed in this effort...
...In some districts they nominate their own candidate, such as in North Midlothian where their candidate, Tom Wintringham...
...Sub-Carpathian' Russia never was and is not today annexed to Czechoslovakia by the will of Russia...
...PVEN more unfavorable was Mr...
...Without a Free Czechoslovakia, there Vrill be no Free Poland...
...No sooner had Stalin claimed openly the Polish Urkraine than Zdenek Fier-linger...
...Benes and, Czechoslovakia of the lack of an urgent friendship towards Poland...
...Czecho-Slovakia was officially represented in the Central and Eastern European Planning Board...
...But with it all, and in spite of a large reduction in the number of votes cast, the majority of an inexperienced Tory candidate was as high as prewar...
...Since then, Russia has outspokenly called for the retention of those areas seized during the Soviet-Nazi pact, has shot Erlich and Alter claiming them as .Russian citizens, has sponsored Polish Communist groups in Russia that support Russia's territorial claims...
...This, I am afraid, augurs ill for Mr...
...In spite of the tremendous popularity of Russia, there is no great enthusiasm for their local representatives here, indeed it would help Russia in working class quarters and in influential political circles if the Russian Government could detach itself from the British Communist Parry...
...V all the sections agreeing to the political truce none accept it so wholeheartedly at the British Communist Party...
...J. B. Priestley, left it...
...The movement is a sort of Libera!-cum-5ocial-ist anti-National Government outfit making a special appeal to the middle class...
...In other areas like Bristol the Common-Wealth Movement gives its support to an independent candidate already in the field...
...Only after this accomplishment can the cooperation of the three states, so closely related in interest and traditions, continue and only so can a healthy constructive confederation of Central Europe be drafted...
...Benes' political ivory tower—or real politik, if yon-please—and for future Russo-Czech relations...
...reduced a Tory majority of 10,000 in tbe last election to 869...
...HE considerations that would lead one to * hold one's hand in a by-election are too remote to affect the working class electorate...
...They accept it as a golden...
...On tbe basis of the declaration of November, 1940, we are sincerely striving for a full agreement with Poland, as we are convinced that our difficulties from the past can be definitely settled and that under the influence of the present war there will continue between our two nations the present alliance and collaboration, close and no undoubtedly permanent...
...price Dr...
...The theory for this most strongly canvassed hereabouts was that he objected to the dictatorial attitude of Sir Richard Acland...
...Benes' ties with Moscow were shown further when he came out, on February 18, with a wholly fantastic post-war plan to shift populations wholesale from one part of Europe to another—a plan completely contrary to the Atlantic Charter but Jong advocated and practiced by the Soviet Government...
...it means that he recognizes the Carpathians as the eastern wall of Europe...
...Czech Minister to Moscow, advised his government fn London to "lay off" the Poles...
...It is all the more unfortunate since President Benes is now a target of such reactionaries as Otto Habsburg, Milan Hodza and the pro-fascist Tiber Eckhardt...
...The accuracy of these statements, as far as I know, was never questioned either by Moscow or by the Czech Government in London...
...So far as this correspondence knows, the Ruthenian pledge is the first definite commitment by Moscow regarding future frontier limitations...
...Dennen's views, as regards Czechoslovakia...
...I cannot quite conceive why we should torpedo an idea whose realization is so desirable...
...A similar view was expressed by Anne O'Hare McCormick in the New York Time* of February 24...
...We do know, also, that as regards Moscow, it firmly maintains that peoples should decide their fate themselves and not that it should be decided by diplomats...
...Moscow, of course, despite the recent Russo-Czech agreement on borders, regards the Carpatho-Russians as Ukrainians...
...In the new political approach of the ComtmV nisi Party a big effort is being made to get affiiliation to the British Labor Party...
...Mr...
...Benes but Col...
...4R...
...Unfortunately Poland had not acceded to such cooperation and understanding at that time...
...In a local coal mining dispute the local Con-munist leader was brought out to say that if the section affected want on strike his Sectios would take over their duties and blackleg oa them in order that coal was produced to behj Russia...
...Are the kites now being flown for a Post-War Coalition, and will Labor be trapped as Lloyd George was 25 years ago...
...Lo* cal Labor circles seised upon the opportunity to pat forward an independent candidate, under the banner of tbe new Common Wealth party...
...Without a Free Poland, there will be no Czechoslovakia...
...By the same token one might as well speak of the Russians as "early Scythians," of the Americans as "early British" and of the American Negroes as 'early Africans...
...Dennen thus accuses Dr...
...He is apparently intent upon creating the impression that the Czechoslovaks desire to torpedo the proposed Slav Federation, "the brain child of General Sikorski...
...It has attracted some talented individuals, most of whom could not be knitted into a nation-wide organization, except as leaders...
...This confederation, based on mutual understanding, will obtain practically as soon as the respective parliaments of Poland and Czechoslovakia can ratify the arrangement upon the termination of the war...
...Czechoslovakia, which ever'since the last war has been a fundamental adherent to the idea of confederation—my aim before this war was to build up gradually out of the Little Entente a real confederation—is therefore now trying to see in this matter there should be reached complete clarity both between the deciding great powers who are participating in this war and between the Soviet Union, Poland and ourselves...
Vol. 26 • March 1943 • No. 13
