Evening star., 1937-03-07

rapidly extending their grip
on the two key states in Gen.
L tral Europe-Poland and Ru-
mania.
Berlin is sparing neither money nor
trouble to encourage the development
Of authoritarian states in both these
countries. And while in Rumania
the success Of the movement is less
apparent because of the reluctance of
the present Rumanian administration
to adopt the authoritarian form Of
government, the Poles are moving
rapidly in that direction.
A new man has appeared in Poland.
He is Col. Koc, a member of the
famous clique of "colonels" to which
the foreign minister, Col. Beck, be-
longs, and successor to Marshal Pill
sudSky at the head Of the powerful
organization Of the Polish war legion
naires.
Col. Koc came to the fore only a
few weeks ago when he announced
the organization of centralized party
formed mostly of Fascists His pro-
gram is purely nationalistic one,
based on the reinforcement of the
national defense to a point where the
entire population must subject all its
activities 70 the good of the state and
the army: support of the Catholic
religion at the expense of the other
churches-although for the time being
minorities living in Poland will be
permitted freedom of worship: fur
ther limitation of the constitutional
rights Of the individual and. finally,
opposition to communism and all
communistic manifestations.
Definite Trend Shown.
Poland. which started as moder-
ately liberal democracy after the
French pattern under the constitu-
ton of March II, 1921, first took
definite trend toward dictatorship
when Marshal Pilsudsky came to head
the government in 1926. But it was
not until two years ago, in March,
1885, that the late protector of Po-
land managed to put through a con-
Stitution which legaliZes highly GEN.
tralized control vested in the person
of the President of the republic.
Philsudsky, who all his life had
fought the tyranny of the Cars. and,
later, during the World War turned
against the German oligarchy, was
compelled to force the adoption of
Draconic constitution simply because
Poland's political. military. financial
and economic position demanded
leadership and non-partisan legisla-
ton, both of which then ere lacking.
Poland simply could not afford the
luxury of truly democratic govern
ment.
The 1885 constitution gave the
President powers which President
Roosevelt might envy. Among may
other prerogatives. the President not
only nominates one of the two candi-
dates for succession to the Office, but
has the right to dismiss the chief
justice, as well as the members, of
the supreme court.
Universal suffering for both sexes
exists in Poland as in other demo-
cratic countries, but oterS must
qualify as to age. intelligence, loyalty.
etc. SO that actually only compare
tive few (chosen by the Presidents
henchmen) can vote. Furthermore
one-thlrd of the 96 Senators are
appointed by the President. The bal
ance elected by Polands social and
intellectual elite The legislative
branch has thus become. in recent
years, hardly more than an advisory
body to the President
Sees Dictator Needed.
Col. Koc finds that even these re-
stricted constitutional rights of the
Polish citizens are too liberal, for the
moment at least. He believes that
Poland needs an outright dictator
himself. He came to that conclusion,
and SO did Col. Beck, when they both
realized that Field Marshal Ridz-
Smigly could not fill the role.
RidZ-Smigly was publicized and
groomed to take over the reins Pill
sudsky had gripped firmly. but it was
in vain. A dashing soldier and an
able organizer. the idea of becoming
a tyrant in his own country is alb
horrent to him. Ridz-Smiglys strong
sympathies for France helped to ne
gotiate a loan of S185 ,000,0 900 from
Paris which Col. Beck could mot have
obtained. This was the amount need
ed to improve the seriously deficient
military equipment. Now that his
usefulness is over he will be k'pt on
as commander-in-chief of the army
another, Field Marshal vJn Blom-
berg-While the colonies are getting
ready to place Col Koc il. charge of
Polands affairs.
1t is not because the Poles have a
strong love for dictatorship that they
are moving rapidly towards an authori-
tartan form of government. They
have lived too long under the scepter
of the emperors of Russia, Germany
and Austria not to appreciate the
advantages of democracy. But the
political situation in Eeastern Europe
Is likely to take such a turn in the
near future as to demand a control
placed in the hands of a single man
who will not be swayed either by a
feeling Of gratitude towards France or
by other emotions.
Poland has striven, ever since its
recognition as an independent state,
to maintain a position of neutrality
in Eastern Europe. A creation of
France, she agreed to enter into the
..steel ring" combination Clemenceau
and his followers built around Ger
many. She accepted Frances tutelage
and considered Germany her poten-
tial arch-enemy until 1884, when
Pilsudsky recognized two things: That
the League of Nations was nothing
but a helpless old woman. incapable
of protecting the weak nations. and
that France could not maintain the